Gabrielle Thomas dethrones Shericka Jackson as 200m world leader for second consecutive US title

Gabrielle Thomas successfully defended her 200m US title

Gabrielle Thomas dethrones Shericka Jackson as 200m world leader for second consecutive US title

Funmilayo Fameso 11:11 - 10.07.2023

Gabrielle Thomas and Shericka Jackson exchanged the 200m World Lead three times on the same night, but it was the American that emerged victorious to defend her title.

On a night where the world lead changed three times between Gabrielle Thomas and Shericka Jackson in two different countries, Thomas emerged top on the world list, clocking a massive Personal Best (PB) of 21.60s (-0.5) to win her second consecutive US title.

Thomas earlier ran a world-leading time of 21.86s in the semis but was smashed by Jackson's Jamaican title-winning time of 21.71s(-0.2), making her a double champion at their championships.

Then coming to the final, the Harvard University graduate had one goal in mind - to take back the world lead and successfully defend her title.

"So I came back from my semifinal and was on my phone, I saw Shericka clock 21.7, and I was like they can't let us have anything.

Gabrielle Thomas beats Sha'Carri Richardson to defend 200m US title
Gabby Thomas realizing she had clocked a world-leading time to defend her US title

So I said I'm going to bring my A game if not at this trials but for Budapest, so immediately it changed my mindset going to the final," said Thomas in her post-race interview with Flotrack on Instaagram.

Newly crowned 100m US Champion Sha'Carri Richardson, who raced to a windy 21.61s (2.5) in the prelims, settled for second in a PB of 21.94s, while Kayla White was third also in a PB of 22.01s.

The trio will be representing the US in the women's 200m event at the World Championships in Budapest and will be gunning to upset any of the Jamaicans for the world title.

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