AUSTIN, Texas, April 29 — Gabby Thomas, an Olympic bronze medalist, showcased her impressive form at the 2023 Texas Invitational by securing the women’s 400 meters title with a remarkable personal best of 49.68 seconds on Saturday (29). She completed an individual sprint double at the meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas, after winning the 200m title on Friday.
Thomas dominated the one-lap event at the two-day meeting on Saturday and defeated her fellow American Lynna Irby-Jackson, who took second place in 50.40 secs, while Jamaica’s Charokee Young finished third in 50.64.
At the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, Thomas won a bronze medal in the women’s 200m behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah and Christine Mboma of Namibia. This year, she is aiming to return to the podium at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest after injuries disrupted her campaign last season, and she failed to make the USA team for Oregon22.
The versatile 26-year-old sprinter has improved her personal best in the 400m from 51.15 seconds, set two years ago in Jacksonville, Florida.
Thomas, who clocked 22.21 seconds to win the 200m on Friday, was delighted with her performance this weekend and now hopes to continue her impressive form and build the early success in the upcoming competitions in what is expected to be another exciting track and field season in 2023.
“Really solid weekend of work at home at the Texas Invitational,” she posted on her official Twitter account @ItsGabrielleT. “I wanted to see where my fitness was before we head into Diamond League season. Very pleased with my wins in the 200 and 400- 22.21 and 49.6.”
Julien Alfred Runs Fast 100m Time Again
Another highlight came in the women’s 100m, where Texas sprinter Julien Alfred clocked 10.95 seconds to take the win, beating her Longhorns teammate Kevona Davis of Jamaica and another Jamaican athlete, Ashanti Moore, who both ran 11.14 seconds.
Alfred has been red-hot form this season and has clocked a wind-aided 10.72 (+2.4 m/s) at the Tom Jones Invitational in her previous appearance in the 100m this season prior to Saturday’s wind-legal performance.
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