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Aleia Hobbs

Aleia Hobbs wins 100m in 10.87, Jackson second as Jamaicans suffer misfortune in blue-ribbon clash in Lausanne

Shericka Jackson was second in 10.88 while Marie Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast was third in 10.89 in a blanket finish.

"I feel good about the race, I´m a little disappointed with the time but that's how it is," Jackson said afterwards.

"I think my start was poor and that affected my overall time but it's just something I´ll continue to work on."

Jamaica’s big three were expected to feature in the much-anticipated clash at the site where Fraser-Pryce ran a lifetime best 10.60 in 2021.

However, the 35-year-old Fraser-Pryce, who had run six times under 10.70 so far this season, suffered a hamstring strain during warm-ups and withdrew from the race.

Elaine Thompson-Herah, who was taking the track for the first time since he sprint-double victory at the Commonwealth Games, was disqualified after a false start.

The Olympic champion’s mental lapse might have been triggered by Shericka Jackson, who left the blocks early during the previous attempt to start and received a yellow card as a result.

Jackson was clearly unsettled by the time the race finally got underway. She got off to a poor start but managed to storm back to claim a place on the podium.

Fraser-Pryce storms to world-leading 10.66 to win 100m at Silesia Diamond League

Fraser-Pryce, who won her fifth world title in Eugene recently, got her usual bullet start before proceeding to step away from the field and register her fourth sub-10.7 time this season and sixth overall, more than any other woman in history. American Aleia Hobbs ran 10.94 for second while The Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou was third in 11.00.

In the men’s equivalent, World Championship semi-finalist Ackeem Blake ran 10.00 for third behind Americans Trayvon Bromell (9.95) and Marvin Bracy (10.00) who won bronze and silver at the recently concluded World Championships in Eugene.

Shericka Jackson, who ran 21.45 to win gold at the World Championships and become the fastest woman alive in the event, won the 200m in 21.84 ahead of Bahamian World 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.35) and American Jenna Prandini (22.39).

Meanwhile, in the Men's 400m Grenada's Kirani James ran a fast 44.55 but had to settle for the runner-up spot as Michael Norman, the 2022 World Champion, claimed victory in 44.11. Bryce Deadmon was third in 44.68.

The women's race was won by the incredible Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Bol, who clocked a personal best of 49.75, a new meet record and national record.

Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek finished second in a personal best time of 49.86. World Championships finalist Candice McLeod was third in 50.22 just ahead of compatriot Stephenie-Ann McPherson who ran 50.31 for fourth.

Fraser-Pryce to conclude 'exciting' Diamond League season with 100m finale in Zurich on Thursday

The fastest woman in the world this year will be in a lane for the Diamond League 100m final on Thursday, September 8, when she faces Shericka Jackson the only woman to defeat her this year and compatriot Natasa Morrison. She is also expected to face the likes of Aleia Hobbs, Twanisha Terry and Sha'Carri Richardson of the USA, Majinga Kambundji of Switzerland, Marie Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast as well as Daryll Neita of Great Britain.

It was feared that the 35-year-old, five-time 100m world champion would not have been able to vie for a fifth Diamond League title after complaining of a tight hamstring that forced her to withdraw from Lausanne on August 26 and then finishing second to Jackson in Brussels on September 2, grimacing as she crossed the line in 10.74.

She intimated afterwards that she was unsure whether she would be competing in Zurich and had to listen to her body before making a decision. However, early Monday, she allayed those fears with a post on Facebook.

“The good news is you get to start a new week. Even better, you get to see another exciting race on Thursday,” she said.

“All roads lead to Zurich and I’m extremely grateful to be able to grace the track for this year’s Diamond League finale!”

This has been a history-making season for Fraser-Pryce, who seems to set a new standard each time she steps on the track. Not only did she win a record-extending fifth world 100m title in Oregon in July, she also became the only woman to run faster than 10.7 six times in a single season.

She ran 10.67 to open her season in Nairobi, Kenya on May 7, 10.67 at the Paris Diamond League meeting on June 18, and 10.67 to win the World Championships 100m final in Oregon on July 17.

She was only getting started. On August 6, she ran 10.66 in Poland and two days later, 10.67 in Hungary. She then went on to run 10.62 at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on August 10, a third time under 10.7 in a week.

World-leading run gets Thompson-Herah excited for next year's Olympic Games

Thompson-Herah ran a world-leading 10.85s in a dominating performance at the Diamond League meeting in Rome. She was metres clear of the USA’s Aleia Hobbs (11.12) and the Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the bronze medallist from last year’s 100m final at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Thompson, who finished fourth in Doha in 10.93, said her performance on Thursday told her all she needed to know.

“I leave here with the world-leading time, I'm super excited,” she said.

“This tells me where I am at the end of this season, and tells me how I can prepare for next year. I am super excited.”

The Covid-19 pandemic enforced a lot of changes to the track season and Thompson-Herah admitted that it has been challenging. However, she has managed to find the motivation she needs while looking forward to the Olympics where she intends to defend her Olympic double from Rio 2016.

“This year required more adjusting, and my goal was to push back and to motivate myself,” she said. “I am a double Olympic champion, so I want to be in my top form next season. We had some competitions in Jamaica, but obviously, the field was not as strong as it is here.”