Miller-Uibo comes from behind to beat Fraser-Pryce

In her first match-up against Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce this season, Shaunae Miller-Uibo held her form, particularly on the final straight, coming away with a victory in the women’s 200 meters (m) at the Meeting Herculis EBS Wanda Diamond League event at the Stade Louis II in the Fontvieille district of Monaco.

The race lost some of its luster with United States’ (US) National Champion 

Gabrielle Thomas pulling out in the days leading up to the meet, but the Bahamian champ proved that she will be one to reckon with at the rapidly approaching Tokyo Olympic Games. Thomas has arguably established herself as the favorite going into Tokyo, running a trip of sub-22 second races at the US Olympic Trials at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, at the end of June. She climaxed those trials with a stunning 21.61 run for the gold and national title in the final – making her the second-fastest of all time behind world record holder the late Florence Griffith-Joyner.

Leading into Monaco, the 200m race was one of the premier events on the schedule, billed as a clash between Thomas, Fraser-Pryce and Miller-Uibo. Thomas might have pulled out, but the others still put on a show. Miller-Uibo stormed from behind to win in 22.23 seconds, just getting past Marie-Josée Ta Lou, of the Ivory Coast, at the tape. Ta Lou finished in a season’s best time of 22.25 seconds and early leader Fraser-Pryce settled for third in 22.48 seconds.

Fraser-Pryce, who ran a personal best of 21.79 seconds at the Jamaica Olympic Track and Field Trials at the end of June, lost some steam on the straightaway, allowing Ta Lou to pull ahead of her and Miller-Uibo to gauge herself. Bahamian Miller-Uibo kicked it into another gear in the final 50 meters and flew past Fraser-Pryce. She caught Ta Lou at the tape and got ahead of her to record the stunning come-from-behind win.

It was a thrilling victory for Miller-Uibo after having her 16-race unbeaten streak in the women’s 200m snapped at the 2021 Gyulai István Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, earlier in the week. Miller-Uibo lost to Jamaican Shericka Jackson in that event, 21.96 seconds to 22.15 seconds. It was her first loss in a women’s 200m race since 2017.

Miller-Uibo got a bit of retribution in Monaco on Friday, and is gearing up for the Tokyo Olympics.

Coming back from a groin injury, Miller-Uibo said she expects to be back to full strength at the Olympics, which is less than two weeks away, set for July 23 to August 8, in Tokyo, Japan.

“We are getting the races in, so we can get back in the best possible shape before Tokyo,” said Miller-Uibo in her post-race interview. “The girls out there are running great times at the minute, but there is nothing I love more than a great competition. The current level we see out there is very motivating, and I am very happy to see women on top of the sport now and making the headlines.”

Thomas and Fraser-Pryce have the world’s two fastest times this year, 21.61 and 21.79 seconds, respectively. Jackson is third on the world’s top performance list for 2021 with her time of 21.82 seconds for second at the Jamaica Olympic Track and Field Trials. Double Sprint Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, of Jamaica; Dina Asher-Smith, of Great Britain; Ta Lou; American Jenna Prandini, and, of course Miller-Uibo, are all expected to be in the mix for a medal, possibly gold, in Tokyo.

According to reports, Miller-Uibo is contemplating on attempting the 200-400 double in Tokyo, but that is a decision that likely won’t be worked out until the final entries for the events are made at the Olympics.

Miller-Uibo is the defending champion in the women’s 400m, and should she contest both events, could become just the third athlete in world history to win the 200 and 400m events at the Olympics. American Michael Johnson, the former world record holder in both events, and Marie-José Pérec, of France, are the other two – both in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996.

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