By Gary Smith, World-Track
EUGENE — American star sprinter Carmelita Jeter says she is not worried about peaking too early, in spite of the fast times she has been laying down on the track this season.
Jeter has been undefeated all this season and she added another win to the collection by booking her spot on U.S. World Championships team with a close wind-aided 10.78seconds win in the women’s 100-metres after going down on the line with Muna Lee, who also ran the same time.
Prior to winning the title, she also clocked 10.88secs in the first round and 10.72secs in the semis.
But despite some concerns, which suggested she may have been peaking too early, Jeter said she was confident her coach John Smith has everything under control.
“I am not peaking too early. No,” the world bronze medalist said. “If you know the way John Smith coaches I will be fine. Trust me.
“I am fit and I am really ready to run faster. I put in a lot of work in the off season and,” she added.
Following her dominating showings in the opening rounds, Jeter was billed as the overwhelming favourite to blow the field away in the deciding race.
However, after pull out to three-metre lead, she was reeled in by an impressive Lee, who closed like a train to take second place.
“It was okay. I really focused on myself this race,” said Lee, who will be hunting for 200m title. “I just went after it. I was telling myself that no one else is better than me in that final.”
Jeter hit the deck and clutched her hamstring immediately after the race, but revealed moments after that it was just a cramp.
“I cramped up at about the 70 meter mark. It was just a cramp, not a pull, so I’ll be fine,” she confirmed.
She is seen as one of the early season favourites to win the 100m title at the World Championships in Berlin later this summer.
Her main challenge is expected to come from Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart, who finished behind the American at the Prefontaine Classics.
