The lifetime best 200m time also moved her above Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas as the best active combination sprinter in history by virtue of her times of 10.76 in the 100m, 21.55 and 49.47 in the 400m.
Only East Germany’s Marita Koch (10.83/21.71/47.60), Griffith-Joyner (10.49/21.34/50.89) and Marion Jones (10.65/21.62/49.59) are ranked higher than the affable Jamaica sprinter, who revealed that the jaw-dropping run on Sunday that left Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (22.05) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (22.140 trailing in her wake, was the result of a lot of hard work.
“I have been working really hard on running the curve. I wanted to do that and I know that once I ran that curve and execute properly, just to relax down the home stretch, I knew I would have run fast but this fast I never expected it but I am grateful,” she said afterwards.
The bad news for the rest of the world is that Jackson believes she has even more speed in those powerful legs of hers, the speed that the world is likely to see at the World Athletics Championships that begin in Eugene, Oregon on July 15.
“The curve is one of the things I want to master. I think I did pretty good tonight. So many mistakes made so I know definitely coach will correct them,” she said.
“I never wanted to put any pressure on myself. People out there will put pressure but listening to my coach, execute properly, I know I can go faster.”
Amir’s father, Obadele Thompson, is a renowned sprinter who won the bronze medal in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Obadele's Olympic success was preceded by a stellar collegiate career at the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP), where he won four individual NCAA sprint titles and set two NCAA records. He also set world records in the 55m and the World Junior 100m. Obadele's achievements earned him induction into several Halls of Fame, including the UTEP Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2007, and the UTEP Athletics and Drake Relays Halls of Fame in 2011. Beyond athletics, Obadele graduated summa cum laude from UTEP in economics and marketing and later earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Texas School of Law. He currently practices international arbitration and litigation.
Amir’s mother, Marion Jones, is one of the most famous sprinters of her generation. She won gold at the 1997 World Championships in the 100m and again at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, Spain. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Jones initially won three gold medals and two bronze medals, but these were later stripped after she admitted to lying to federal investigators about her knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs during the BALCO scandal.
Despite the challenges faced by his parents, Amir is carving out his own path in the world of athletics. His commitment to the University of Texas marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his burgeoning career. The University of Texas has a storied history in track and field, and with the guidance of top coaches and access to world-class facilities, Amir is well-positioned to develop his talents further.
Amir’s decision to attend the University of Texas is a nod to his father’s legacy, as Obadele also pursued his legal education at the University of Texas School of Law after his successful athletic career. The younger Thompson will now have the opportunity to build on his father’s legacy while forging his own identity in the sport.
As he prepares to join the Longhorns, Amir Thompson carries the weight of a storied lineage but also the promise of a bright future. The track and field community will be watching closely as he begins his collegiate journey, eager to see how this young talent will develop under the guidance of one of the top athletic programs in the United States.
The 10.70 personal best that she set on June 29, 2012, still stands as the Jamaican national record but that she now shares with teammate and rival Elaine Thompson-Herah, who equaled the record in July 2016. Only three women have run faster – Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49), Marion Jones (10.65) and Carmelita Jeter (10.64).
The three Americans have run faster but would give up those times to accomplish with the diminutive Jamaican had achieved over the past decade. However, she is desperate to join that pantheon of four.
Fraser-Pryce has won two Olympic gold medals, nine at the World Championships. She has also run faster than 10.80 seconds 15 times, more than any other woman in history, but that is not enough for the Pocket Rocket who is intent on building on her significant legacy as arguably the greatest ever female 100m sprinter.
“There is still breaking this ’10.70’ barrier. It is a big challenge for me and that’s one thing,” she said in a recent interview on the Olympic channel. “That’s the goal for next year.
“Yes, I want to stand on the podium for sure but I think also if I can run fast and do it, then yeah. I really want to run 10.6 or even 10.5 and I want to break the 22-second barrier for the 200m and run 21.”
Fraser-Pryce's 200m best of 22.09 was set while winning the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
