Shericka Jackson and Noah Lyles win 200m gold at World Athletics Championships – صحيفة الصوت

Jamaican Shericka Jackson and American Noah Lyles have produced a pair of 200-metre runs for the ages to set the World Athletics Championships alight in Eugene.

Jackson ran the second-fastest women’s 200m time to win the women’s gold.

Not to be outdone, Lyles consigned the legendary Michael Johnson’s 26-year-old US record to the history books.

And it all happened within the space of 15 magic minutes at Hayward Field, the spiritual home of athletics in the US.

Jackson clocked 21.45 seconds to destroy a field of the highest quality.

The only quicker time ever recorded was 21.34 seconds set by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Fellow Jamaican and five-time world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was second, in 21.81 seconds, and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith claimed the bronze, in 22.02 seconds.

“I’m feeling great. I came out and put on a show,” said Jackson, who was denied the chance to challenge for a 200m medal at the Tokyo Olympics when she eased up too soon in the heats.

It was the 28-year-old’s first individual global gold after a string of minor medals, including silver in the 100m in Eugene four days ago.

“I know Shelly is probably one of the best curve runners in the world, so I had to run the curve as hard as possible,” Jackson said.

“I know I am strong and fast on coming home so I knew when I eventually caught up with her, I could take it.”

Lyles stripped 0.01 from the legendary Michael Johnson’s US record time to win the men’s half-lap title in 19.31 seconds.

However, he had to wait an agonising few seconds for the record to be confirmed because the track-side clock initially registered the winning time as 19.32 before it was rounded down.

“I saw the time pop up and saw I tied Michael Johnson’s record,” Lyles said.

“I was like, ‘Really, you’re going to do me like that?’

Johnson’s national mark of 19.32 had stood since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and was the world record until usurped by Usain Bolt 12 years later.

The US men swept the medals in Eugene, just as they did in the 100m race earlier in the championships.

Kenny Bednarek was second, in 19.77 seconds, and teenager Erriyon Knighton pocketed bronze, in 19.80 seconds.

“Today is my day — I finally got to do what I dreamed of,” said Lyles, who ripped open his top after crossing the finish line.

It was a second straight world 200m title for Lyles, who was disappointed to finish third at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

AAP