American sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stormed to a personal best of 21.47 seconds to win the women’s 200 metres at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, September 13.
Her time ranks as the third-fastest ever recorded in the event, putting her behind only Florence Griffith-Joyner and Shericka Jackson on the all-time list.
Jefferson-Wooden had already won gold in the 100 metres at the championship, clocking a world-leading 10.62 seconds. She completed the sprint double by beating fellow Americans Gabby Thomas and Kayla White in the 200m final.
“I wanted to PB (personal best). So I was thinking like, 21.6 low, 21.5. I skipped all over 21.5 and went 21.4 – I mean, I’ll take it!”
“So I was thinking like, 21.6 low, 21.5. I skipped all over 21.5 and went 21.4 – I mean, I’ll take it!.”
After winning gold in the 100 and 200 metre events, Jefferson-Wooden was also rewarded with a cash prize of $300,000.
In the men’s division, Kenny Bednarek achieved the same feat and received the same cash price.
