Continuing her fine late season momentum, Carmelita Jeter ran away from a high calibre field to take the 100m in 11.10.
“I just concentrated on my thing today, not getting nervous about the big names in this competitive race,” said Jeter, who rose to the fore with her surprise bronze medal showing in Osaka where she lowered her career best to 11.02. Here in Stuttgart, she powered through the second half to win decisively over Allyson Felix, the World 200m champion, who crossed the line in 11.15.
A modest 11.5 sprinter just one year ago, the 27-year-old Jeter first attracted attention with her third place showing at the U.S. Championships to earn her ticket to Osaka. In the Japanese coastal city, Jeter said, “I found my rhythm.”
A week after her win at Berlin’s Golden League fixture, Jeter appears to have found a firm belief in her abilities.
“I felt much more confident in Stuttgart than in Osaka. I know now that I belong here among the best in the world.”
Frenchwoman Christine Arron looked strong in the early half of the race but failed to accelerate, and finished a distant third in 11.20. European champion Kim Gevaert of Belgium was fourth (11.29), just ahead of Osaka silver medallist Lauryn Williams (11.31).
Bob Ramsak