The colour of the medal was a downgrade from the gold of three years earlier, but the world 200 metres bronze hanging around Dina Asher-Smith’s neck meant almost as much.
Faced with one of the finest sprint performances in history up ahead of her, it was an achievement just to make the podium at all.
A couple of years ago, Shericka Jackson was a 400m runner of decent but not world-beating level. Now, she is a sprinting machine.
Her winning time here in Eugene was an astonishing 21.45 seconds - the second fastest in history behind the late Florence Griffth-Joyner. Given the major question marks that will forever hang over the American’s career, Jackson may well lay legitimate claim to the world record.
Between her and Asher-Smith was the irrepressible 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who clocked 21.81sec for silver, which was the 21st global medal of her glittering career.
That Asher-Smith only managed 22.02sec mattered for little. Had she matched her British record time that earned world gold in 2019, she would still only have come third. This race was an entirely different proposition, with the likes of double Olympic 200m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and American champion Abby Steiner behind her.
“I am so happy with that,” said Asher-Smith. “The calibre of the women in that final is insane. I don’t think we have ever been in a world final with that kind of talent.
“For me, I knew I had to run as fast as my legs were going to carry me.”
Back when Asher-Smith won her world title three years ago, the absence list was so extensive that gold was almost hung around her neck before she stepped on the start line. This time, she simply came up against two women who were borderline impossible to beat.
“Dina Asher-Smith, that was a brilliant performance,” said Olympic and double world 200m champion Michael Johnson. “She came here as the defending world champion and wanted to repeat, but the level of competition in this 200m is the best we have ever seen.
“In 2019, a lot of the top 200m runners that year didn’t show up for the race. You cannot take anything away from Dina: she won it based on who was there. This year, everyone showed up.”
Lyles clocks phenomenal time
The men’s 200m was similarly spectacular, with Noah Lyles moving third on the all-time list, successfully defending his world title to complete another American podium clean sweep after the hosts had claimed all three medals in the 100m.
Lyles obliterated his rivals on the bend before sweeping down the home straight to clock a phenomenal 19.31sec and move ahead of former world record holder Johnson. Only Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake now sit ahead of him in the all-time standings.
Kenneth Bednarek took silver in 19.77sec, with Erriyon Knighton running 19.80sec for bronze.
Lyles said: “I was running so fast that I was breaking down in form, which is something I never do. So I felt like it was slow.
“I feel incredible. If I didn’t have the fear of God put in me from Erriyon and Kenny I wouldn’t have come out here and tried to run away from them so fast.”
Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson led a four-strong British contingent who successfully qualified for the 800m semi-finals.
Hodgkinson eased to victory in her heat in 2-00.88, with Jemma Reekie, Ellie Baker and Alex Bell also securing their places in the next round.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be such a quick pace at 400m and I am just happy to get through,” said Hodgkinson. “I am healthy, my body is in one piece, ready to go, just taking it round by round.
“I got my ankle clipped a few times but I’m grateful to come through safely. I’m just really pleased to get through to the next round.”