August 22, (THEWILL) – After her exploits in the Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, Jamaica sprinter Elaine Thompson Herah had returned to the headlines in a continuation of her history-making at the Prefontaine Classic.
She cruised to victory in the biggest Women’s 100m race of the year post-Olympic. The Jamaican was out to prove that her 10.61 seconds winning time in Tokyo was not a flash in the pan. On Saturday, she crossed the line of the Women’s 100m race at the Eugene leg of the Wanda Diamond League, in 10.54s.
It was a Jamaican record time that saw her show the rest of the field, which consisted of her compatriots and medallists from Tokyo, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (silver), Shericka Jackson (bronze), and also the American hotshot Sha’Carri Richardson, a clean pair of heels.
THEWILL had reported that Richardson was not listed in America’s Olympics contingen due to a doping ban for cannabis use in July. She was running her first race after the ban but all the high hopes held for her comeback failed to materialise as she finished in 11.14s.
As they had done in the Olympics, the Jamaican women took all top three winning positions as Fraser-Pryce was second in 10.73s, and Jackson was third, equalling her personal best (PB) of 10.76s.
American Teahna Daniels crossed the finish in fourth with another PB time of 10.83s fourth. Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou was fifth in 10.90s. She was followed by American Javianne Oliver (PB 10.96s), Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji (10.96s), and Jamaican teenager Briana Williams (11.09s).
Thompson Herah’s new PB shaved off more fractions to finish with what is the second fastest time in history. It ranks only one behind the world record of 10.49s set by late American Florence Griffith Joyner in 1988.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
