200m sweep for Jamaica’s women possible, but highly unlikely

Written by Kwesi Mugisa. Posted in Athletics. | 23 July 2021 | 28417 Views
Tags: Athletics, Caribbean, Elaine Thompson Herah, Gabrielle Thomas, Jamaica, Olympics, Shaunae Milleruibo, Shellyann Fraserpryce, Shericka Jackson, Tokyo 2020, Track And Field

Track and field analyst and Tokyo Take host Leighton Levy insists it will be an uphill battle for Jamaica’s women to sweep the 200m event at the Olympics.

Many pundits and fans alike have predicted a clean sweep of the medals for the women in the 100m, by no means a stretch with the Jamaican trio of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson having run the fastest times this year.

Two-time winner of the event Fraser-Pryce leads the way with her time of 10.63, which is the second-fastest ever run over the distance. Reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah is next, having run her best of 10.71 last week.

Finally, is Jackson, whose 10.77 puts her in elite company and is the third-fastest time, per athlete, this year. American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has gone faster than Jackson this year, with a best of 10.72, but will miss out on the Games after testing positive for marijuana.

Some believe the 200m could provide a similar result but that event looks like a different kettle of fish entirely. Six women have run below 22 seconds this year. The list is led by the USA’s Gabrielle Thomas, who clocked 21.61 last month, the second-fastest time ever recorded over the distance. Fraser-Pryce (21.79) and Jackson (21.82) are next on the list but Jeanna Prandini (21.89), Anavia Battle (21.95), and Tamara Clark (21.98) have also achieved the feat.

Reigning Olympic champion Thompson (22.02) is seventh on the list with World Champion Dina Asher-Smith (22.08) and Shaunae MIiller-Uibo (22.03) certain to be in contention.

“All of these women have run below 22 seconds, five of them this year. Who will win, nobody has a clear picture of that,” Levy said on this week’s episode.

"You can’t discount 21.61 and even though I don’t see Gabby Thomas running another personal best in Toyko, even if she doesn’t, she’ll be good enough to be on the podium,” he added.

“When we factor in Miller-Uibo’s personal best of 21.74, coupled with her 47.38 capability in the 400m, it’s hard to imagine her not being on the podium either. That leaves one spot and we have not mentioned any of the Jamaicans yet.”