CNN
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It was a spectacular sprint night at the World Championships on Thursday as records fell in the men’s and women’s 200m finals.
First, Shericka Jackson set a new national and championship record after beating Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to gold.
The Jamaican dominated the race and won in 21.45 seconds, becoming the second fastest woman of all time behind lone American Florence Griffith-Joyner.
He was quickly followed by Noah Lyles who retained his title in the men’s race and broke the American record previously set by Michael Johnson 26 years ago.
Lyles is now the third fastest man over the distance with a time of 19.31 seconds.
“Today is my day. I finally got to do what I dreamed of,” Lyles said after the race. “I felt like I got off to the best start possible.”
He was joined on the podium by two fellow Americans – Kenny Bednarek in second and teenager Erriyon Knighton in third – as the United States became the first country to win the World Championships medal sweep in the 100m and 200m men.
“It’s an immaculate feeling to be on the podium with two fellow Americans,” Lyles added.
Despite not completing the full sweep of the women’s race, Jamaica completed the double with Jackson and Fraser-Pryce well ahead of Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in third.
Johnson, who had her record broken by Lyles, worked as a pundit for the women’s race and said the quality was the “best we’ve ever seen”.
” I feel good. I went out and put on a show,” world champion Jackson said. “The fastest woman in the world, the national and championship record, I can’t complain.”
