Flo-Jos record in sight, says world champion Jefferson-Wooden

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TOKYO - Melissa Jefferson-Wooden woke up as the world 100 metres champion and fourth-fastest woman in history after her incredible 10.61 second run in Sundays final, but she is already looking ahead and thinks 10.5 and beyond is possible.

Florence Griffith-Joyners much-questioned 10.49 from 1988 has been untouchable for decades, though Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah edged closer with her 10.54 in 2021.

Jefferson-Wooden, still only 24 and very much on an upward curve, thinks she is capable of reaching that level.

Youve certainly got no regrets after running 10.61, she told Reuters in an interview at Nikes Tokyo headquarters on Monday.

But I definitely do think (the world record) is a possibility. Crazily enough, I thought yesterday I had the potential to run 10.5, which is why I say that about the record.

I was happy with every aspect of the race but still wish I had been able to separate a little sooner. And then theres no telling what I could have run. Im grateful for what I did but Im still hungry for much more because I know that its there.

Jefferson-Wooden came into the world championships on a remarkable run of sub-11 second races - and wins - and said she knew if she was able to focus on the process then it could and should be her night.

Having won bronze at last years Olympics she was used to the pressure and noise around a big final and, true to plan, she delivered a beautifully smooth display to finish ahead of Jamaican Tina Clayton (10.76) and Olympic champion Julien Alfred (10.84).

I wanted to just keep the main thing the main thing, and that is to focus