Reigning Olympic 100m champion, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, is gradually establishing himself as the best sprinter in the world when he captured his first World 60m indoor title in a brisk and world leading time of 6.41 seconds at the World Indoors Championship, in Belgrade, Serbia on March 19. Jacobs finished ahead of the American Christian Coleman who posted the same time of 6.41 seconds with Marvin Bracy in third in a personal best time of 6.44 seconds. Jacobs winning time of 6.41 is the 4th fastest time in history behind Coleman (6.34), Maurice Greene (6.39), Ronnie Baker (6.40) and Andre Cason (6.41).
Entering the 60m finals in Belgrade with his much-anticipated showdown with Coleman, Jacobs ran 6.53 seconds in the heats before unleashing a world leading performance of 6.45 seconds in the semi-finals. In the finals and running out of lane 5, Jacob ran a strong race to out-lean Coleman at the line for the victory. Up next for the Italian world sprint champion is the 2022 World Championship schedule for Eugene, Oregon later this summer where he aims to secure another global title.
The rise of Lamont Marcell Jacobs
Heading to the World Indoor Championship in Belgrade, Jacobs had recorded six straight wins in the 60m this season. The Italian sprint champion has a personal best of 6.47 over the distance coming into the 2022 indoor season.
In his season opener in ISTAF Indoor Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin on February 4, Jacobs ran 6.57 before running 6.51 in the final, a very impressive time by any stretch of the imagination. A week later, on February 11, Jacobs followed that time up with a 6.49 performance in Poland at the Orlen Cup 2022, defeating the likes of Mike Rodgers of the USA.
On Thursday, February 17 in Lievin, France, Jacobs lived up to expectations and defeated the highly touted Ronnie Baker of the USA, running a very quick 6.50 in the 60m.
Coleman vs Jacobs
Jacobs has been unstoppable this indoor season and finished the season undefeated. The only footnote to his perfect season was that he false-started and was disqualified in the 60m finals at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting after posting 6.56 in the heats. No one has finished ahead of Jacobs this season.
Based on these results it is fair to infer that Jacobs will be a major force to be reckoned with in both the 60m and the 100m this season. We now wait with bated breath the encounter between Jacobs and Christian Coleman the 100m. The prospect of them meeting again is indeed salivating!
Henley Taylor
Freelance Sportswriter
Edited by Raymond Byfield
Jacobs photo courtesy of World Athletics
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