The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was another superb performance for quarter-miler Shaunae Miller-Uibo, but it wasn’t what high jumper Donald Thomas anticipated as they competed in their specialties against some of their top rivals in the Prefontaine Classic at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday.

Fresh off her IAAF Diamond League series opener a week ago in Shanghai, China, Miller-Uibo got matched with one of her biggest rivals as she faced American Phyllis Francis for the first time since the two clashed at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, England.

This time, there was no mishap at the end as Miller-Uibo pulled away from Francis on the home stretch and easily took the tape in a world leading time of 49.52 seconds, just off her personal best of 49.44.

Francis, in her season opener, had to settle for second in 50.81 in the race that featured all but two Americans.

While American Shakima Wimbley was third in 50.84, Jamaica’s Stephanie Ann McPherson was fifth in 51.01.

“I feel like I’ve gotten really strong this year and the race just felt really great,” said Miller-Uibo. “There are some things to work on going forward but for this early in the season so I will take that.”

The race was also expected to feature American Allyson Felix in her season opener, but the 2016 Olympic silver medallist and World Championship bronze medallist, withdrew from the meet.

Miller-Uibo, the slim 6-foot, 1-inch Olympic champion from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, didn’t have any problems in the race. She made up the stagger on the field on the back stretch and coming off the final curve with a slight lead over Francis, she accelerated into another gear and was untouchable to the line.

In the men’s high jump, Thomas had to settle for eighth place with a leap of 2.21 metres or 7-feet, 31/4-inches.

World champion Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won with fewer knockdowns with 2.32m (7-71/4) over Danil Lysenko, who was one of the authorised neutral athletes competing out of Russia. Lysenko was the World Championships runner-up.

The next event will be the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy, on May 31.