The world’s fastest woman Elaine Thompson (21.53) is a late withdrawal but the field is still stacked.
It features firebrand American Sha’Carri Richardson, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson as well as Olympic silver medalist and World U20 champion Christine Mboma of Namibia, both of whom have run faster over the half-lap sprint than the upstart American.
The 18-year-old Mboma ran a lifetime best 21.81 for the silver medal in Tokyo and 21.82 to win the World U20 title in Kenya last month. She will prove to be a handful not just for the American but also for the Olympic 100m silver medalist Shericka Jackson, who ran a personal best 21.82 in June.
However, in a pre-meet media conference on Friday, Richardson, who will be running on fresher legs, said she hopes to go below her previous best.
“I feel like a baby in such a company because a lot of ladies have a time of 21 seconds behind their name. I get into the starting blocks with the same eagerness for a 200m as I do for a 100m, so hopefully, I can prove that with a fast chrono. My coach and I are also working very hard to excel in both distances, so I'm really looking forward to diving under 22 seconds,” said Richardson whose personal best is 22.00 but has a season-best time of 22.11 run in Gainesville, Florida in April.
She might very well need to, if she is to win, because also included in the line-up is the reigning European champion Dina Asher-Smith, who hampered by a hamstring injury, was forced to withdraw from the event at the Tokyo Olympics last month.
However, the Briton, who is gradually returning to full health, ran a season-best 22.06 in Italy in June and will be hoping to get close to that time after a promising 22.19 for third in Eugene, Oregon on August 21.
Olympic finalist Beatrice Masilingi is also included in the line-up. The Namibian teenager, the sixth-place finisher at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, ran a personal best 22.18 for the silver medal behind at the World U20 Championships in Kenya last month.
Newly minted five-time world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who has run under 10.70, a record-extending six times this season, including a world-leading 10.62 in Monaco on Wednesday, has been confirmed for the meet.
Mommy Rocket is the first woman to run under 10.70, a record six times in the same season and has eight times under 10.70 overall. In her last six finals, the 35-year-old Jamaican has run 10.67 (Nairobi), 10.67 (Paris), 10.67 (Oregon), 10.66 (Silesia), 10.67 (Hungary) and 10.62 (Monaco).
With the prospect of a two-week break from competition in which she is expected to get take some well-needed rest after running 10.6 three times in a week, Fraser-Pryce will be aiming to extend that record even further to seven when she lines up in Switzerland, where she will face compatriot Shericka Jackson, who ran a lifetime best of 10.71 in Monaco.
Jackson, the 200m world champion and the fastest woman alive over the distance, has said she has not run her best 100m so far this season and will be looking to improve on that time that saw her finish second to Fraser-Pryce.
Also confirmed for the blue-riband clash is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, the fastest woman alive courtesy of the blistering 10.54 she ran in Oregon in August 2021 after establishing a new Olympic record of 10.61 while winning gold in Tokyo two weeks earlier.
Admittedly, the double-double Olympic champion has not been at her best this season but she enters the meet coming off a confidence-boosting sprint double at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where she ran 10.95 to win the 100m title and a season-best 22.02 to claim the 200m crown.
The 30-year-old Thompson-Herah ran 10.79 in Oregon in May, which made her the third fastest woman in the world this year until last Wednesday when Marie Jose Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast eclipsed that time when she was third in Monaco in a lifetime best of 10.72, a time that makes her the fastest African woman in history.
Fraser-Pryce, Jackson and Thompson-Herah swept the medals at the Tokyo Olympics and again at the World Championships in Oregon in July.
Olympic champion Hansle Parchment gets another crack at two-time world champion Grant Holloway in the 110m hurdles. In Monaco, Holloway ran a season-best to defeat Parchment, who was third in a season-best 13.08.
Smikle, who departs the island on Wednesday for the prestigious Diamond League event on Sunday, expressed both excitement and determination about his first appearance in the series. "Encountering a discus field like the one in Rabat for my first Diamond League meet is pretty exciting and crazy at the same time," said Smikle, who has had five wins on the trot this season. "Not many of the big names are missing and I just need to go out there and compete. It’s a game of distance and these guys are good quality throwers, so I just need to hold my own and compete."
His recent performance at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational demonstrated Smikle's capabilities, as he threw an impressive 66.89m to secure victory over his compatriot Fedrick Dacres. Reflecting on this achievement, Smikle emphasized the importance of consistency and translating his current form to European competitions.
"Before coming into this competition, I felt a little tired during the training sessions in the days before," Smikle noted following his win on Saturday. "Coming out today and having another 66m throw is pretty respectable. I am working on my consistency; what I need to do now is when I go to Europe, I translate this sort of performance and better to be competitive among the field."
Looking ahead to his aspirations for the Olympics in Paris this summer, Smikle is focused on pushing his limits and achieving greater distances. "I want to get 68, 69, 70m in a stadium," he explained. "That is what I am working on."
When asked about the steps needed to reach these targets, Smikle highlighted the importance of dedication, patience, and consistency in training. "It’s going to take more work, patience, and greater consistency," emphasized Smikle, who, so far this season, has won with throws of 67.57m, 67.83m, 65.96m, 66.03m and 66.89m. "If you can build up your level of consistency, then at some point your upper limit must get higher."
Thompson-Herah has been nominated on the back of a phenomenal season on the track which saw her achieve new heights in the sport.
She ran 10.61 to win the 100 metres in Tokyo and followed that up with 21.53 to win the 200 metres, becoming the only woman to win the Olympic sprint double on two occasions after also doing so in Rio five years ago.
She was also a part of Jamaica’s victorious Women’s 4x100 metres relay team.
After the Olympics, Thompson-Herah went on to achieve even more success.
At the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on August 21st, Thompson sped to a personal best and national record time of 10.54 seconds, the second-fastest time ever in the women’s 100 metres.
She broke 10.7 seconds four times this season, including in the Diamond League final in Zurich where she ran 10.65 to win.
Thompson-Herah has been nominated for the award alongside Dutch distance runner, Sifan Hassan, American hurdler, Sydney McLaughlin, Venezuelan Triple Jumper, Yulimar Rojas and Kenyan middle-distance specialist, Faith Kipyegon.
Hassan won the 5000, 10,000 metres double in Tokyo and also broke the 10,000 metres world record this season.
McLaughlin set two new world records in the women’s 400 metres hurdles on her way to winning gold in Tokyo.
Rojas set a new triple jump world record to win gold in Tokyo, and Kipyegon set a new Kenyan record in the women’s 1500 metres while also winning gold in Tokyo.
The winner will be announced at the World Athletics Awards to be held virtually on December 1st.
The 2011 World and 2012 Olympic Champion's winning time was 44.30, .14 ahead of American World Championship bronze medallist Quincy Hall in second. Another American, Vernon Norwood, ran 44.61 for third. Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald was fifth in 45.10.
This was the fourth Diamond League title for the 31-year-old who also previously won in 2011, 2015 and 2022.
The 25-year-old Paulino, who took silver at the World Championships in Eugene in July, secured the Diamond Trophy with a brilliant personal best and world leading 48.99.
It was a Caribbean 1-2-3 as her teammate Fiordaliza Cofil ran 49.93 for second while Bajan World Championship bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sada Williams was third in 49.98.
James, who also took silver at the World Championships, ran 44.26 to win his Diamond Trophy ahead of Americans Bryce Deadmon (44.47) and Vernon Norwood (44.66).
Peters, who must now surely be favoured to win the gold medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month, threw 90.31m breaking the previous mark of 89.78m set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2006.
In winning, the Grenadian had to overcome a national record and personal best mark by India’s Neeraj Chopra, 89.94m, which was his opening throw. Julian Weber was third with his fifth-round mark of 89.08m.
After overcoming an injury that kept her out for an entire 2021 season, Clayton qualified for the World Championships when she finished third at Jamaica’s national championships last weekend in a season’s best 54.20. She lowered that time to 53.90 while finishing second in the 400m hurdles to Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who set a new meet record of 52.27, a time that makes her the second fastest in the world behind US champion and newly minted world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos stormed to victory in the men’s event in a new meet record 46.80, which was also the fastest time in the world this year. Dos Santos, the bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, dismantled the field over the first 200m and led by almost 10m as they turned into the home stretch.
He eventually won by more than a second over the USA’s CJ Allen who clocked 48.28 for second place and Commonwealth Games champion Kyron McMaster, who was farther back in 48.58, a season’s best.
Danielle Williams also ran a season’s best but just missed out on a podium in the 100m hurdles won by the imperious Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. The Puerto Rican Olympic champion held off a stern challenge from Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan to win in 12.46, the Nigerian clocking 12.50 for second place.
Reigning world champion Nia Ali was third in 12.53 with Williams clocking 12.59 for fourth.
Mondo Du Plantis had another outstanding outing setting a new national record of 6.16m to seal yet another win in the pole vault.
Richards' time of 44.18 eclipsed his previous best of 44.54, which he set in San Salvador in July 2023. The race was a high-calibre showdown, won by Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who delivered a sensational lifetime best of 43.74. Hudson-Smith's time not only set meet and European records but also marked the fastest time in the world heading into the Olympics. The USA’s Vernon Norwood finished second with a personal best of 44.10, making it a race of outstanding performances.
Reflecting on his achievement, Richards shared his excitement and gratitude. "It feels great, I did not even know I was running that fast. I just wanted to go out and try and finish. I was running blind and it was difficult, but all praise and thanks to God. Without Him, this would not be possible," Richards said.
He added, "This stadium has always been magic for me. This is where I got my two world medals and the beginning of my career, I felt the magic again today. This race was really important, it meant a lot and to come away with a huge PB. I am going to celebrate today, but not get too overexcited and just enjoy the moment.”
Richards' performance at the London Diamond League signifies his readiness for the Paris Olympics, where he aims to capitalize on his current form. With his personal best and an acute sense of optimism, Richards heads to Paris with momentum and determination. His latest accomplishment has not only bolstered his spirits but also positioned him as a formidable contender in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Hodgkinson followed the pacemaker before striking for home 300m from the line, eventually clocking a time of one minute 55.77 seconds, taking 0.11secs off her previous best set in winning Olympic silver in Tokyo.
“I am a little bit shocked that I ran so fast,” the 21-year-old said. “Paris next year, I will definitely be back.
“The weather was really nice, so warm. I had heard good things about the track. With this full stadium and the great crowd, it was amazing. I am so happy.
“Now the aim is to stay healthy, we still have to see, I want to keep running fast. The focus is on the summer, on Budapest (the World Championships).
“What is next with such a fast time early in the season? Well, I do not know. Hopefully I will run even faster.”
Hodgkinson’s record-breaking run came just half an hour after Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen smashed the two-mile world record by more than four seconds.
Ingebrigtsen left the field trailing in his wake as he recorded a time of seven minutes, 54.10 seconds.
The previous mark was set by Daniel Komen in 1997, three years before Olympic 1,500 metre champion Ingebrigtsen was born.
Records continued to tumble as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon set a new world’s best for the 5,000m, just a week after doing the same in the 1,500m in Florence.
Kipyegon produced a blistering last lap to pull away from Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey and clock a time of 14:05.20, taking almost a second and a half off Gidey’s previous mark.
Hodgkinson followed the pacemaker before striking for home 300m from the line, eventually clocking a time of one minute 55.77 seconds, taking 0.11secs off her previous best set in winning Olympic silver in Tokyo.
“I am a little bit shocked that I ran so fast,” the 21-year-old said. “Paris next year, I will definitely be back.
“The weather was really nice, so warm. I had heard good things about the track. With this full stadium and the great crowd, it was amazing. I am so happy.
“Now the aim is to stay healthy, we still have to see, I want to keep running fast. The focus is on the summer, on Budapest (the World Championships).
“What is next with such a fast time early in the season? Well, I do not know. Hopefully I will run even faster.”
Hodgkinson’s record-breaking run came just half an hour after Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen smashed the two-mile world record by more than four seconds.
Ingebrigtsen left the field trailing in his wake as he recorded a time of seven minutes, 54.10 seconds.
The previous mark was set by Daniel Komen in 1997, three years before Olympic 1,500 metre champion Ingebrigtsen was born.
Records continued to tumble as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon set a new world’s best for the 5,000m, just a week after doing the same in the 1,500m in Florence.
Kipyegon produced a blistering last lap to pull away from Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey and clock a time of 14:05.20, taking almost a second and a half off Gidey’s previous mark.
The ideal conditions helped produce another world record in the penultimate event of the evening, Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma taking more than a second off the previous mark with a time of 7:52.11 in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
She just managed to edge Annina Fahr of Switzerland who ran 51.97 for second place. Fahr’s compatriot Julia Niederberger finished third in 51.11.
Reflecting on the season so far, the Bahamian star stated, “It has been a long season, and obviously it would have come in handy for this to be the start of it - I just have to build for next season, and to get the body used to the shock again - and be ready for next season.
“Having become a mother has no comparison [to her greatest athletics achievement]. This is my greatest blessing, and I love that boy so much. I am going to go back into things, and I just want to make him proud. I want to get back up and, hopefully, whatever happens next year, I am doing it for him.”
The British long-distance runner – a four-time Olympic gold medallist – covered 21,330 metres in 60 minutes, beating the previous best of 21,285m set by Haile Gebrselassie in 2007.
In his first attempt at breaking the record, Farah stepped things up after finding himself around 10 metres behind Gebrselassie's pace at the midway point.
Bashir Abdi overtook Farah with five minutes remaining but the 37-year-old powered back in the final 60 seconds to claim his first world record.
Farah was competing for the first time since October's Chicago Marathon and is now preparing for the 10,000m event at next year's rearranged Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"That's incredible. I'm very happy to break the world record today," he said in an on-track interview.
"Me and Bashir Abdi worked together. I'm so pleased for him and for myself and what an amazing way to do it and show the people what is possible.
"I feel tired but at the same time in the middle part of the race we had to work hard.
"I wasn't sure what we were doing and had to help each other and get through it and it's nice to break a world record."
Meanwhile, Sifan Hassan set a new best distance of 18,930m in the women's equivalent event, breaking the record of 18,517m held by Dire Tune since 2008.
Pryce's victory was not just any win—it was a record-breaking run that saw her clock a stunning 48.57, making her the seventh fastest woman ever in the event. This time eclipsed her previous national record of 48.89, which had broken Lorraine Fenton's two-decade-old Jamaican record of 49.30 and made her the first Jamaican woman to break the 49-second barrier.
Her impressive time of 48.57 also places her as the second fastest woman from the Caribbean, only behind Olympic gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas, who holds a personal best of 48.36. Additionally, Pryce's performance is the third-fastest time recorded in the last 39 years, trailing only Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser's 48.14 and Miller-Uibo's 48.36, both set at the 2019 World Championships.
Moreover, Pryce's time surpasses the American record of 48.70 set by Sanya Richards-Ross in September 2006, making her the fastest Jamaican-born woman in the 400m.
Reflecting on her remarkable achievement, Pryce took to Instagram to express her gratitude and joy, writing: "Only two words: GOD DID. My professional debut marked another successful milestone in my career. It was always a dream to showcase my talent in such a prestigious atmosphere and I am utmost grateful for the opportunity. 48.57✅."
Pryce's incredible run comes shortly after she signed with Puma, following her final collegiate competition at the NCAA National Division One Championships, where she set the collegiate record and University of Arkansas all-time best with her previous national record of 48.89.
As Pryce prepares for the Paris Olympics, her record-breaking debut has not only established her as a formidable contender but also sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting Olympic campaign.
Grange, the Minister of Gender, Culture, Entertainment and Sport, was speaking at a welcome-home ceremony for Thompson-Herah at the VIP room at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.
Thompson-Herah, the 2016 Rio Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m, became the first woman to defend both titles at the same Olympic Games when she won the 100m in an Olympic record of 10.61 and then the 200m in a new national record of 21.53.
She would go on to win a third gold medal as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that set a new national record of 41.02, the third-fastest time in history.
Two weeks later, she would lower her 10.61 lifetime best to 10.54 in Eugene, Oregon before reeling of time of 10.64, 10.72 and 10.65, the latter occurring at the Diamond League final in Zurich on September 9 where she was crowned Diamond League 100m champion. In doing so, she became the first woman to run four wind-legal times under 10.70, eclipsing the previous record of three set by the polarizing Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States.
In recognition of her outstanding performances for Jamaica, Thompson-Herah is to be conferred with the Order of Distinction during the National Heroes Day Honour Awards set for October 18, and as Minister Grange revealed on Wednesday, she will now carry a diplomatic passport.
“We will not be able to do the big splash we would want to but we will still have an event that will say to Jamaica and the world and (the athletes) that we appreciate them and that we love them,” Minister Grange said while revealing plans to celebrate Jamaica’s successful Olympic team before her announcement aimed specifically at Thompon-Herah.
“Elaine, it was our honour to bestow on you the Order of Distinction in the Commander Class, it is our honour to ensure that you now carry a diplomatic passport. Wherever you go in the world, you will be treated appropriately.”
In accepting, the double-triple Olympic champion said her success this season has come about because of the hard work she put in and a commitment to achieving her goals notwithstanding the challenges that came with managing her long-running Achilles injury.
She said the faster she ran the more she believed that the world record of 10.49 is well within reach.
St. Lucian Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred will contest a key part of her Wanda Diamond League title defense with appearances at the Bislett Games in Oslo and BAUHAUS Galan in Stockholm this June.
The 29-year-old Thompson-Herah truly captured the public imagination in 2021. The double sprint champion from the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the Jamaican turned in performances the likes of which have not been seen since at least four years before her birth.
Her 2021 season will go down in history as perhaps the greatest of all time. Within the span of just over three weeks, between the end of July and late August, she won two individual gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Her 100m win came in an Olympic record time of 10.61 while her 200m victory four days later yielded a national record of 21.53 seconds. It was also the second-fastest time in history.
Shortly after her double Olympic triumph, which she topped off by winning sprint relay gold with Jamaica, Thompson-Herah lined up at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA and stamped her class with a run of 10.54 seconds, a new national record, and like her 200m Olympic win, was the fastest time in the world since Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record in 1988.
Thompson-Herah would go on to take her third Diamond League title, winning the women’s 100m final in Zürich with a time of 10.65 seconds.
Only five women this century have ended a season with the fastest times in both the 100m and 200m. Coming into the season, four of those five were Jamaican. And this season, Thompson-Herah became the first woman ever to repeat that feat following her 2016 success.
Along the way, Thompson-Herah went under the 10.80-second barrier 15 times. Only her compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, has more. However, Thompson-Herah is the queen of sub-10.70 runs, with four, one more than Flo Jo.
Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson completed the Tokyo women’s 100m medal podium, and the three Jamaicans have combined for 34 runs under 11 seconds this year.
Crouser set the men’s shot put standard indoors and out this past season.
The 28-year-old American champion won gold at the Tokyo Olympics as well as the Diamond League trophy.
Paulino took control of the race from the 200m mark with Williams not far behind and closing steadily. Paulino managed to hold the lead down the home stretch even though the Commonwealth Games champion was closing with every stride.
The World Championship silver medallist subsequently crossed the line first in 49.87, just ahead of Williams who clocked 49.94.
Paulino’s compatriot Fiordaliza Cofil overtook a fading Candice McLeod to finish third in a personal best 50.13. McLeod was fourth in 50.80.
Earlier, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ran a meet record 12.34 to win the 100m hurdles ahead of world champion and world-record holder Tobi Amusan, who clocked 12.45 for second place. Tia Jones of the USA was third in a personal best of 12.47.
Meanwhile, Shanieka Ricketts finished second in the women’s triple jump with 14.64m. As expected, Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas won with another big performance leaping out to 15.31m.
Ukraine’s Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk was third with 14.31m.
The USA’s Noah Lyles won the 200m in 19.56 ahead of compatriot Michael Norman (19.76) with Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards finishing third in 19.95.
At the Doha meeting, it was the Olympic silver medalist Paulino who dominated proceedings. Running from an inside lane, the Dominican tracked Miller-Uibo well before coming off the curve with a lead. The typically strong-finishing Miller-Uibo not only failed to make up ground on Paulino but was overtaken near the line by McPherson who nabbed second spot.
Paulino took the top spot with a time of 51.20, followed by McPherson, second in 51.69, and Miller-Uibo third in 51.84. Barbados’ Sada Williams was next, and she finished ahead of another Jamaican, Candice McLeod.
In the meantime, the women’s 200m was won by the United States’ Gabrielle Thomas who took top spot after outbattling Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson down the stretch to stop the clock at 21.98, ahead of Jackson’s 22.07. Great Britain’s Dina Asher was third in 22.37.
In other events, Grenadian Anderson Peters dominated the men’s javelin to take top spot with a throw of 93.07, while Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts captured the women’s long jump.
Fresh off her triumph at the World Championship triumph last week, the Venezuelan, a now four-time world champion, had jumps of 15.08 and 15.15, either of which would have comfortably secured victory against a stacked field that included world championship silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of the Ukraine and Cuba’s Leyanis Perez-Hernandez, the bronze medalist.
However, it was Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts who claimed the runner-up spot on this occasion with her jump of 14.78m. The Jamaican had a second-round jump of 14.62. The 14.78m followed on her third attempt.
Meanwhile, Liadagmis Povea of Cuba, sixth at World’s, took third place with her third-round effort of 14.73m.
Ricketts remarked that it was almost redemptive to be able to finish second in Zurich after missing out on a medal in Budapest.
"It is outside of my control in terms of what happens on the day so all I have to do is to control the things I can control, which is to jump the best I can on that day. Of course, I was disappointed to come out fourth again in Budapest but coming here and finishing on the second place, it is like icing on the cake," she said.
"I just hope to keep building on this. I tried to get a lot of rest and hydration in between the two events as it was extremely hot in Hungary so I have been really focusing on recovery to make sure I can still focus on the rest of the season. Out here, the surface felt a bit different - I think that track was much faster there and I had to make a few adjustments in terms of the runway. But in overal, I think it was a good competition. You do not need to focus on beating anybody, just beating yourself. Because once you do your best, you will be satisfied with the result."
Perez-Hernandez was fourth with 14.62 with Dominica’s Thea LaFond, who produced a new national record of 14.90 in Budapest, finishing fifth with an effort of 14.42m.
Bekh-Romanchuk had four fouls with her one legal jump being 14.37, which placed her sixth.
Ricketts produced an excellent series with distances of 14.69m, 14.79m and 14.69m in the first, second and fourth rounds before going out to 15.00m in her fifth-round effort. The 2019 World Championship silver medallist then produced a personal best 15.03m in the sixth and final round.
Rojas had fouls in her first two attempts before going out to 14.53m in her third round. After another foul in the fourth round, the superstar produced a world leading and meet record 15.35m in the fifth to secure victory.
Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams produced her best series of the season in third. Her best distance of 14.61m was her best jump since 2021. Her full series was as follows: 14.37m, 14.50m, 14.61m, 14.31m, 14.56m and 14.45m.
