Elaine Thompson-Herah was one of the big stories of the Olympics, after destroying a top-quality field to claim the Tokyo sprint double in Bolt-like fashion. She wasn’t the favourite heading in, but, in retrospect, we should have known better.
Ahead of the showdown between Thompson-Herah and fellow sprint queen Fraser-Pryce, it was the latter who wore the tag of heavy favourite. It certainly wasn’t without reason.
Fraser-Pryce headed into Tokyo having registered the fastest time in 33-years over 100m, defeated Thompson-Herah at the country’s national championships, and boosted a fearsome 8-2-win record in major championships.
Even so, to understate the chances of Thompson-Herah, the defending champion and possibly the best in the world on her day was a huge mistake.
The athlete treated the world to a prodigious display of her talent at the 2016 Olympics where she claimed the sprint double in emphatic fashion. Prior to Tokyo, the athlete had in fairness struggled to recapture those heights with disappointing finishes at both the 2017 London World Championships, where she placed 5th, in the 100m, and the 2019 World Championships where she placed 4th.
To be fair, however, the athlete has struggled to be healthy, and a troublesome Achilles injury has often kept her from being at her best. By her own admission, the injury had even impacted her ahead of the country’s national trials where she battled to compete through the pain.
In Tokyo, however, she managed to show up healthy and the rest as we know, is history. A dominant 10.61 win in the 100m, finishing a healthy .13 seconds ahead of Fraser-Pryce, handed the decorated sprinter her largest margin of defeat at a major championship. The time was second to only Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record and also displaced the American’s longstanding Olympic record of 10.62.
For anyone not paying attention, they certainly were after that, and there could be little doubt the 200m would be special. It certainly was. Thompson-Herah ran a jaw-dropping 21.53, a time again second to only Griffith-Joyner, in the process defeating the field by a huge margin. There was plenty of attention on the USA’s Gabrielle Thomas after she clocked what was then the third-fastest time, 21.61, ever run over the distance in June. Thompson-Herah beat that time by a sizeable .8 seconds.
Jaydon Hibbert excited to make his professional debut at USATF Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday
Jamaica's rising triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert is set for his professional debut at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday.
From holding both the indoor and outdoor NCAA records to becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest athlete to win the coveted Bowerman Award, Hibbert's journey has been an exciting display of exceptional talent in the jumps. He eagerly awaits the Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday,
"Finally, I'll be opening my season. I'm grateful and happy that I am ready to compete and I'm excited to see where I am in my preparations. I've never visited Bermuda before, but I expect it to be fun. I've heard it's an electrifying stadium, which jumpers need, so I look forward to the crowd support," he exclaimed.
The 19-year-old won the gold medal at the 2022 World U20 championships and is the holder of the U20 indoor and outdoor triple jump world records at 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively. He went undefeated during his freshman year at the University of Arkansas in 2023 before transitioning to the professional ranks in January.
"Since I started doing the sport, I've been looking forward to competing professionally. I can't wait to get out there and make my coach and family proud. I'm praying for a great season!" he exclaimed hardly able to contain his excitement.
The Bermuda Grand Prix, also known as the "Prelude to Paris", will start at 3 pm Jamaica time at the Flora Duffy Stadium. Action is live on Peacock via NBC Sports.
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Defending champions Hydel lead all qualifiers to Championship of America High School Girls 4x100m final
Hydel High, Wolmer’s Girls, St. Jago High, Edwin Allen High, Holmwood Technical and St. Mary High all secured spots in the Championship of America High School Girls 4x100m final on day one of the 2024 Penn Relays at franklin Field in Philadelphia.
Hydel’s team of Alliah Baker, Shania Myers, Shemonique Hazle and Juwonna Whitehorne combined to run 45.99 to win heat 13 and advance with the fastest time overall.
Holmwood Technical (Regina Bailey, Kiara Meikle, Sadeena Holder, Monique Proudlove) combined to run 46.38 and advance as winners of the ninth heat ahead of St. Mary High (Akeeliah Barnes, Kaliesha Bell, Shagay Sheppy, Tianna Rhoomes) who also made it through with 46.46.
St. Jago High (Rae-Annia Williams, Kryshell Hoolong, Seanagaye Leslie, Tamara Bailey) with 46.55, Edwin Allen (Trezeguet Taylor, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, Jounee Armstrong, Shanique Cassanova) with 46.59 and Wolmer’s Girls (Mikayla Gardner, Tianna Marshall, Natrece East, Abigayle Wolfe) with 46.72 will also be in Friday’s final.
Hydel are defending champions in the event.
Edwin Allen, Holmwood and Alphansus Davis through to High School Girls 4x800m final at Penn Relays
As the battles of high schools at the 128th staging of the Penn Relays got underway at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Thursday, Edwin Allen High, Alphansus Davis High and Holmwood Technical have advanced to the finals of the 4x800m relays.
The team of Rickeisha Simms, Monqie Stewart, Horecia Love and Tonian Allen clocked a time of 9:04.67 to win their heat and advance as one of the 12 fastest teams heading into the final. Purdue Academy were the runners up in the heat with a time of 9:09.66.
Third in the heat were IMG Academy that were timed in 9:12.13.
Meanwhile, Alphansus Davis High (Tabbrel Williams, Alikay Reynolds, Allecia Johnson, Carlene Temple) finished third in their heat in 9:06.25, a time that also saw them advance to the finals.
Their heat was won by Union Athletic who clocked 9:02.27, the fastest time heading into the finals. Second was Rumson Fair-Haven in 9:04.48.
Holmwood Technical (Terrica Clarke, Cindy Rose, Jovi Rose, Florence Nafamba) just managed to make it with their time of 9:18.65, which saw them finish second in their heat behind winners Guilderland (9:18.25).
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