© Stade de France ®
Macary, Zublena et Regembal
Costantini - Architects
ADAGP - Paris - 2002
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COMPETITION  PORTRAITS |
 KELLI RESTORES ORDER
Paris 2003 Saint-Denis
Kelli White became the fourth American woman to win the 100m world title on Sunday. Still struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of her triumph, she is now preparing to double up in the 200m.
Always ready with a smile but rarely exuberant, Kelli White is the type of athlete you find yourself cheering on from the stands. The diminutive 26-year-old Californian (5ft 4’’) brilliantly won back the crown lost by the USA at Edmonton 2001. Victorious in 10.85, Kelli succeeds former American winners Gail Devers (1993), Gwen Torrence (1995) and Marion Jones (1997 and 1999).
Three years experience
“I still haven’t taken it in,” confesses the new queen of women’s sprinting, and that disbelief is understandable because although White has had an excellent season so far, regularly running around 11 seconds, she still does not boast the experience of some of her elders. Her first run at an IAAF meeting was as recent as 2001, and until yesterday her only medal win was a bronze over 200m in Edmonton.
“This season everything has gone well,” she explains. I’ve mostly focused on the 200m so I don’t know yet if I’ve reached my best over 100m. It’s my first season at this level. To be a real champion you need to stick around for a few seasons, like Marion Jones. I don’t think I’m at her level. She doesn’t need to be afraid of me!” (laughs).
Better than Marion?
Although Kelli is progressing all the time, she is still some way off the times the triple Olympic champion has run. Her PB came on Sunday in the final, when she ran the third best time in the world this year behind Chandra Sturrup and Chryste Gaines.
But who is to say this world title will not propel the Californian on to greater deeds? She could even do something Marion Jones has yet to do by pulling off a World Championship triple. “I’m not taking my foot off the pedal. I’m focused on the 200m and the relay. My World Championships are far from over. I’ve even told my mother, who’s in the stands this week, that I’m going to win two more titles here.” Watch this space…
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