Carmelita Jeter improves to 22.20 with a big win in Monaco (© Philippe Fitte)
Stockholm, SwedenCarmelita Jeter knows that the Stadium record in Stockholm in the 100m is 10.90 and has been owned by Irina Privalova since 1994. She also knows that a stadium record at the DN Galan Samsung Diamond League fixture is awarded with a 1-carat diamond valued at 10,000 US dollars.
“I would love to get a diamond at DN Galan,” Jeter, history’s second fastest woman at 10.64, said ahead of her race on 29 July. “Diamonds are a girl's best friend.”
Privalova won the first diamond presented by DN Galan on 12 July, 1994 by winning the 100m in 10.90. Later that evening she got a diamond for her 200m time of 22.02.
“Carmelita definitively has the capacity to break the record,” says meeting director Rajne Söderberg. “So far we have given out 67 diamonds. I hope that I can give away many more on Friday!”
Chances are pretty good that Jeter can better Privalova´s record. In her ten fastest races of her career Jeter has an impressive 10.792 average!
“I am very pleased with my season so far. There is still room for improvement before I get to Daegu,” said Jeter, who lowered her career best over 200m to 22.20 in Monaco last Friday, beating three-time World champion Allyson Felix in the process.
Jeter will surely arrive in Daegu with confidence as she has three straight wins at this year´s World Championship site. In 2009 she won with 10.83 well ahead of Jamaican Sherone Simpson’s 11.35. In 2010, She won in 11.00, beating Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown, who clocked 11.05. And earlier this season, she dominated again, clocking 11.09 to LaShauntea Moore’s 11.27.
“It is a track that I like, but having run in Daegu does not give me more confidence or put any pressure on me. Going to the World Championships and representing USA is an honour, so I am excited about being there,” Jeter said.
But first things first. On Friday Jeter will focus on a great race at Stockholm Olympic Stadium. Among others she will face Jamaican Kerron Stewart, the world´s seventh fastest woman with 10.75 and a season best of 10.87. Young veteran, 35-year-old Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, keeps proving that she still belongs among the elite sprinters.
Samsung Diamond League
