From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Eastern High graduate English Gardner, now in her second post-collegiate season, continues to prove she’s one of the best sprinters in the world.

Gardner ran a blistering 10.84 to win the 100-meter dash Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where she ran her college track.

Gardner won one of two sections of the 100. At the time she crossed the finish line, her time was No. 1 in the world in 2015. Moments later, Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won a different section of the 100 in a world-leading 10.81, leading two others also under 10.84.

But the performance was huge for Gardner, whose best time last year was 11.01. She lowered her PR from 10.85, from when she won the 2013 U.S. title in Des Moines.

Gardner, who lost her senior year at Eastern after getting hurt in a Powderpuff Football game, now finds herself No. 4 in the world, with the top six times all coming from Eugene Saturday night. She’s also No. 2 among Americans, behind Tori Bowie, who ran 10.82 for third in the other 100 final at the Prefontaine meet.

Gardner, a two-time NCAA champ at Oregon, moved into the No. 29 spot on the all-time world list and 12 spot on the all-time U.S. list. Her time is fourth-fastest by an American woman since 2000:

• 10.49 … Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988)
• 10.64 … Carmelita Jeter (2009)
• 10.65 … Marion Jones (1998)
• 10.76 … Evelyn Ashford (1984)
• 10.78 … Dawn Sowell (1989)
• 10.78 … Torri Edwards (2008)
• 10.79 … Inger Miller (1999)
• 10.80 … Tori Bowie (2014)
• 10.82 … Gail Devers (1992)
• 10.82 … Gwen Torence (1994)
• 10.83 … Sheila Echols (1988)
• 10.84 … English Gardner (2015)
• 10.85 … Muna Lee (2008)
• 10.85 … Tianna Bartoletta (2012)
• 10.85 … Barbara Pierre (2013)

Here’s a link to the all-time world list, and the 2015 world list is here.

Gardner will be one of the favorites in the 100 at the U.S. Championships back at Hayward Field in Eugene June 25-28.