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Shellyann Fraserpryce

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce rises above adversity with grace and grit, en route to Paris 2024

As she navigated the twists and turns of her journey to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Fraser-Pryce's resilience shone through, leaving an indelible mark on both her admirers and her sport.

The seasoned athlete, at the age of 36, defied expectations and showcased her extraordinary grit. Despite the hurdles that the injury presented, Fraser-Pryce sprinted her way to a bronze-medal finish in the 100m event, clocking a season's best of 10.77 seconds. This feat was achieved even as she watched her own record of 10.67 seconds being eclipsed by the remarkable ShaCarri Richardson of the United States, who blazed through the finish line in an astonishing 10.65 seconds.

Fraser-Pryce's journey, however, wasn't solely defined by her individual achievement. As a key member of Jamaica's 4x100m relay team, she once again demonstrated her steely commitment to her team and her nation.

During the relay, Fraser-Pryce faced another setback—a hamstring injury—early on in her leg. Yet, driven by an unshakeable determination and a deep sense of duty, she continued the race, ensuring that the baton made its way to the next runner, Sashalee Forbes. This display of sheer willpower and selflessness rallied her teammates and captured the hearts of fans worldwide.

The scene that unfolded in the aftermath of Fraser-Pryce's heroics was a testament to the profound impact she has had on her sport and her community. Teammates and coaches rushed to the medical centre, offering their support and encouragement. The doctors' diagnosis of a hamstring tear could have been a devastating blow, but Fraser-Pryce's spirit remained unbroken. The prognosis of a full recovery only solidified her resolve to come back stronger, setting her sights on new horizons.

Fraser-Pryce's heartfelt words resonated deeply as she addressed her fans for the first time since the injury. "As I contemplate lacing up my spikes again, I am moved by the warmth received by each and every one of you," she shared. "Looking back 14 years from my first appearance at the World Athletics Championships and 16 medals later, it feels truly prolific.

“A special ‘thank you’ to the organizers whose swift response to my injury and recovery spoke volumes for their care and professionalism on and off the track. Jamaica, the sweet land that I love, you are my heart, my backbone and the literal catalyst pushing me against all odds. Without a doubt, I am proud to be ‘one of us’ – as you all poured your support and care into me over the season. It was what kept me going.”

Her acknowledgment of the organizers' support and professionalism, coupled with her profound love for her homeland, Jamaica, painted a portrait of an athlete who draws strength from her roots.

"We never quit, we never stop," she proclaimed. These words encapsulated her ethos—one of resilience, tenacity, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. Fraser-Pryce's ability to find inspiration in adversity, to view setbacks as stepping stones, and to rise above challenges with grace and grit is a narrative that will continue to inspire athletes and fans across the globe.

With her sights set on future endeavors, Fraser-Pryce left a tantalizing promise: "Every chapter, no matter how it reads, always leads us to better preparation and execution when again we rise. So get ready, Paris here we come…"

Her journey is far from over; it's a testament to the power of the human spirit, the unwavering support of a community, and the enduring legacy of an athlete who embodies the very essence of sportsmanship and perseverance.

As the world watches in awe, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's determination burns brighter than ever. She has her sights set on her fifth Olympic Games in Paris 2024, a stage where she intends to once again showcase her indomitable spirit and passion for her sport.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce set for Switzerland showdown ahead of Final Olympic quest

 Fraser-Pryce’s remarkable Olympic journey began with gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. She then captured a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games, despite battling an injured toe, and followed up with a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. This incredible feat made her the first and only woman to win medals in the 100m at four consecutive Olympic Games.

 In the recent Jamaica National Championships, Fraser-Pryce finished third in the 100m behind Shericka Jackson (10.84) and first-time Olympic qualifier Tia Clayton (10.90). Fraser-Pryce clocked 10.98 in the preliminaries, 10.91 in the semifinals, and 10.94 in the final, showcasing her enduring speed and competitive spirit.

 As she prepares for her final Olympic appearance, Fraser-Pryce will compete at the Luzern meeting on Tuesday, marking her return to European soil since the 2023 World Championships. This event will likely be her last race before the Paris Olympics. Last year at the Luzern meeting, she clocked an impressive 10.82 seconds, demonstrating her elite performance level.

 Fraser-Pryce, who will turn 38 in December, is poised to make her final push for Olympic glory. With five world titles in the 100m to her name, she remains a formidable competitor on the track. Her participation in Switzerland is not only a critical part of her Olympic preparations but also a chance for fans to witness one of the sport's legends in action one last time before she aims for another historic performance in Paris.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce signs with HUMBL

HUMBL provides merchant services software that is being developed to accommodate the migration by governments to digital forms of their national currency. It also serves to facilitate key functions like cross-border remittance, foreign exchange, bill payment, and lending products from smartphones.

“HUMBL has signed Jamaican track and field athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to represent the brand for the coming year,” it said on Twitter this morning.

“Excited to have you onboard, Shelly-Ann.

Fraser-Pryce, 34, is a GraceKennedy Global Brand Ambassador and a brand ambassador for digital company Digicel.

She is one of the most successful track and field athletes in history having won Olympic 100m titles in Beijing in 2008 and again in London in 2012. She was third in the 100m in 2016 in Rio. She goes for an unprecedented third Olympic title later this month in Tokyo.

In addition to her Olympic 100m titles, Fraser-Pryce is also a four-time World 100m champion. No other athlete - male or female - has ever won four 100m titles. She also has a 200m title from the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

She won silver in the 200m at the 2012 London Games.

She won the World Indoor 60m title in 2014 and has won four Diamond League titles.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce speeds to personal best 10.60 in another Jamaican sweep

The Olympic silver medalist blazed to meet record 10.60 while just managing to hold off a fast-finishing Thompson-Herah, who ran 10.64. It was another 1-2-3 for Jamaica as Shericka Jackson finished third in 10.92. It was the third time this season that the trio swept all the medal places.

Naturally, Fraser-Pryce was pleased with her performance.

“I’m feeling good to equal my PB tonight, it was cold but I still came out here to do my job,” she said. “Believe it or not, I still have not run my best race. I know there is more to give because I still need to work further on perfecting my technique. There will be more from me this season, and certainly, my goal is to break into the 10.5 range. The crowd in Lausanne was amazing as usual.”

Meanwhile, Thompson-Herah admitted that after several high-level performances she is feeling a bit of fatigue.

“My body is feeling tired after a long season and especially after having done personal bests, four times in a month so that´s amazing for sure,” she said.

“I have no plans to break the world record and I never thought of getting so close. I´m simply going to continue working hard, finish this season strong and come back even stronger next season.”

Shanieka Ricketts finished second overall in the triple jump competition won by Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas to set a meet record of 15.52m. She also produced a wind-aided effort of 15.56m.

Ricketts, who had a wind-aided jump of 15.02 finished second while Hanna Minenko of Isreal was third with 14.47m.

The Jamaican said her performance was redemption after failing to win a medal in Tokyo during the summer.

“Today feels like redemption after the Olympics where I was a bit disappointed with my results,” she said.

“I’m grateful because I've been having a great season this year with lots of consistently big jumps. Today was not wind legal but it gives me the confidence to know that I’m back in good shape.

“Between myself and Kimberly Williams, I hope we are influencing another generation of triple jumpers back home because we have the talent to do well.”

Steven Gardiner ran 20.11 for third in the 200m that was won by Kenny Bednarek in 19.65 over Fred Kerley (19.77). The athletes were aided by a wind of 3.2m/s.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to kick off final Olympic campaign at JAAA's French Foray meet on Saturday

Fraser-Pryce, who last competed in August 2023 when she ran 10.77 to win the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, is gearing up for the Jamaica National Championships, which begins in less than two weeks on June 27. To secure her place in the Olympic squad, Fraser-Pryce will need to finish in the top three at the national trials.

In an interview with Sportsmax.TV last October, Fraser-Pryce revealed plans to run more races leading up to the Olympics in 2024. However, for reasons unknown, she has not been able to compete before Saturday. As one of the most decorated sprinters in history, with five World Championships 100m titles to her name, Fraser-Pryce has faced a series of injuries since 2016. A toe injury in 2016 hampered her chances of winning a third consecutive Olympic 100m title, and she finished third.

After nearly two years off due to the birth of her son Zyon, Fraser-Pryce made a triumphant return by winning her fourth World 100m title in Doha in 2019. She followed this with a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a fifth world title in Oregon in 2022. During an injury-hit season in 2023, she followed up with a bronze at the World Championships in Budapest.

On Saturday, Fraser-Pryce will gauge her readiness for what she has indicated will be her final Olympic campaign. Fans and athletics enthusiasts will be watching closely as she begins her journey towards making history once again in Paris.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce up for prestigious Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award

This is her fourth call, having been nominated in 2010, 2013 and 2016. She has never won the award.

The Jamaican, who celebrated her 33rd birthday in December, blazed to 2019 world-leading 10.71 in winning an unprecedented world title in Doha last September.

At 32, she was also the oldest woman to win a 100m title at the championships that began in Helsinki in 1983. She won her previous 100m world titles in 2009, 2013, and 2015.

However, for all her groundbreaking achievements on the track in 2019, Fraser-Pryce, who will be gunning for an unprecedented third Olympic 100m title in Tokyo later this year, is not favoured to win the Laureus Award.

Tennis star Naomi Osaka leads he female nominees having won the Australian Open last January.

It meant she became the first woman to win consecutive Grand Slam singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015 and she finished the year strongly with victories in the Pan Pacific Open and the China Open.

Also among the nominees are outstanding US gymnast Simone Biles, Allyson Felix, Megan Rapinoe (USA), and skier Mikaela Shiffrin.

Rafael Nadal leads the male nominees that also include Lewis Hamilton, Eliud Kipchoge, Marc Marquez, Lionel Messi and Tiger Woods.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: Ready to conquer the track again after recovering from injury

After recovering from a knee injury she suffered back in May in Kenya, Fraser-Pryce is more determined than ever to get back on track after her record-breaking season in 2022.

Reflecting on her journey, Fraser-Pryce, in an interview with Black Enterprise shared, "You know, I've always said that no two years are ever the same. You plan and you work, and you just hope that everything falls into place."

Her last year was filled with joy and achievement, especially after winning an unprecedented fifth World 100m title and running under 10.7 seconds, a record seven times, which laid a solid foundation for her ambitions this year.

However, the sprinter experienced a hiccup early in the season in Kenya, forcing a delayed start to her season. Determined to bounce back stronger, she returned to the drawing board to ensure her knee was in excellent condition. She knew that the outdoor season would demand not only mental fortitude but also peak physical performance. Her goal was to be in top form and leave no room for setbacks.

 Speaking about her preparations, Fraser-Pryce stated, "So far, training has been going great, and I believe I'm in a much better place now. I've been able to tweak some things and really revisit areas that needed work."

A three-time Olympic gold medallist, Fraser-Pryce’s relentless work ethic and dedication have been the driving force behind her successful career, and she remains focused on fine-tuning every aspect of her performance.

Throughout her journey, Fraser-Pryce has relied on her spirituality, trusting that God will always guide her path. "I really just trust that God will always work things out," she said, "I always have to trust that. You do the work, and you just get on the track, and you know you have a good team. Coaches are prepared, we're prepared."

Shelly, Elaine take top billing as Jamaica's athletes attempt big step towards Tokyo Games at Trials

The fastest woman alive Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce seems assured of her spot at a fourth Olympic Games, and she seems certain to be joined by reigning champion Elaine Thompson-Herah by the time the women's 100m is complete at the National Stadium in a few hours time. 

Who will win the battle to claim the rest of the spots is, however, anyone’s guess.  The likes of world junior champions Briana William, in-form NCAA sprinter Kemba Nelson, World Championships relay gold medallist Natasha Morrison and 400m specialist Shericka Jackson will all be part of a quality, competitive pack.

Jamaica sprint king Usain Bolt has now long retired, and it seems an almost impossible task for the current generation to fill his shoes.  The likes of World Champion Yohan Blake once thought to be his natural successor will be looking to make a statement when he touches the track tonight.

Shericka Jackson confirmed for Diamond League meeting in Poland, August 6

Sportsmax.TV reported on Thursday that Jackson had withdrawn from Jamaica’s team to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England where track and field is scheduled to get going on August 2.

Jackson heads to Poland in record-breaking form after she ran the second fastest time ever to claim gold in the women's 200m in Eugene. She is currently second in the qualification rankings and could secure her place in the Zurich final with a win at the Silesia Stadium.

She will be up against 400m world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who will be hoping to break into the 200m top-eight with a big point haul as she begins to shift her focus away from the one-lap event.

Speed to thrill – Gateshead Diamond League showdown set to feature three of six fastest women in history

In what many predict could be a preview to the Olympic Games later this summer, Jamaican speed queens Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah will finally face red-hot American Sha'Carri Richardson, the early-season favourite, for the first time this year.

Historically, as far as the speed record book is concerned, the early season clash could be one of mammoth proportions.  The trio are not only three of the six fastest women alive, but also the only ones still active on the all-time speed list.

Fraser-Pryce holds the fourth-fastest time ever recorded over the distance at 10.70, set in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2012.  Her compatriot, Thompson-Herah, matched that identical time, at the same venue, in 2016 and is joint-fourth on the list.  Richardson joined the exclusive list last month with her clocking of 10.72, recorded in Florida, making her the sixth-fastest of all time.

The times are only bettered by Marion Jones (10.65), Carmelita Jeter (10.64), and Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49), a trio of American sprinters who are no longer active.

Richardson has of course set the season marker with her burst of speed last month, but Thompson-Herah is not far behind having registered 10.78 in Clermont.

The trio are, however, not the only big names in the field with Great Britain’s fastest woman Dina Asher-Smith and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare also set to face the starter.  Another Jamaican, who will also line up in the blocks, Natasha Morrison, is also in fine form this season having recorded the third-fastest time, 10.87, last month in Florida.

In addition to just the times, there will be plenty of pedigree on display, between them Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah have claimed 7 of the last 9 major games 100m Olympics and World Championship titles.  The only exceptions to that dominance being the 2011 World Championships, which was won by Jeter, and the 2017 World Championships, which was won by another American Torrie Bowie.

Also scheduled to take part in the meet are world long jump champion Tajay Gayle, world triple jump silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts, and world shot put silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd.

The race Veronica Campbell-Brown would love to do over

Like most of us, there are many things she would love to get a second crack at, but the one that seems to have been stuck in her craw is the finals of the Women’s 100m at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011.

The two-time Olympic 200m champion had been having a great year in 2011. She ran a personal best 10.76 in Ostrava on May 31 and went into the World Championships in fine form.

“I think I was on pace to win,” VCB recalled during a recent YouTube interview with marketing consultant Tanya Lee.

Campbell Brown eased through the first round in 11.18, a time that was third fastest of the Jamaicans.  Kerron Stewart, the 2009 silver medallist, and defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce both clocked 11.12 and eased into the semi-finals.

In the semis, VCB clocked 11.06 to qualify for the finals. It was the fourth-fastest time behind the 11.02 from the USA’s Carmelita Jeter, 11.03 from Fraser-Pryce and 11.05 from Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago.

However, the draw was unkind to the 2007 100m champion and she ended up in lane 8.

From there, things did not go according to plan.

“I messed up so badly at the start,” VCB explained.

“I do not like to make excuses but when I think about that race, I did not hear the gun clearly. The starting system behind us was a weird one. They had speakers behind us but there was no speaker behind me so think I heard the echo of the gun so I started slow.”

Left in the blocks Campbell-Brown, fuelled by her indomitable spirit, raced through the field, getting by Stewart, then Fraser-Pryce and just squeezed past Baptiste. However, she ran out of real estate crossing the line second in 10.97s. Jeter won the gold in 10.90s with Baptiste taking the bronze in 10.98.

“I made up a lot of ground. I almost caught Carmelita but I was too late; so if I could redo that race I would and hope to react a little better, challenge Carmelita better and maybe the result would have been different.”

There's never room for error' - Fraser-Pryce relishes tough competition against Jamaican teammates

For basketball there's the United States Dream Team, for football, it’s Brazil for track and field, surely the Jamaica women’s sprint team has to be right up there.

At the country’s national trials, Fraser-Pryce (10.71), Shericka Jackson (10.82), and Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.84) were the three athletes to secure an automatic spot.  In Tokyo, as many predicted a few weeks later, the places were different, with Thompson-Herah taking gold, Fraser-Pryce silver, and Jackson bronze but the trio remained the same.

At the Jamaica trials, Briana Williams, the 2018 world junior champion, found herself with only a relay spot after clocking 11.01, a time that would have been good enough to win most national championships around the globe let alone make the team.

In such a competitive field, there is certainly very little room for error and a bad day could mean the difference between first and third or missing out entirely.  Fraser-Pryce wouldn’t have it any other way.

“For me, I’m kind of glad that we have that competition because when you are in practice you have to always make sure that you are giving 100 percent at all times,” Fraser-Pryce told members of the media ahead of Saturday’s Diamond League meet in Eugene.

,“You don’t have room for any errors or any time for slacking off because there are so many other ladies who are behind, who are coming.  So, it definitely forces you to be on your A-game and I think that’s good for me as an athlete.”

Fraser-Pryce will face off against Thompson-Herah, Jackson, and American Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m today.

Thompson out of Gateshead Diamond League showdown with Richardson, Fraser-Pryce

The Jamaicans and the American seemed set for a blockbuster showdown over the distance, having recorded three of the six fastest times in history. 

However, Thompson-Herah is not listed on the start list for the meet and according to reports has pulled out of the event.  There has been no official reason provided for the sprinter’s withdrawal.

The field will, however, still boast plenty of quality, with Great Britain’s fastest woman, Dinah Asher-Smith, and another Jamaican, Natasha Morrison, also set to face the starter.  Morrison has clocked the third-fastest time over the distance this year, having run her personal best of 10.87, in Florida, last month.

According to reports, Thompson-Herah is also registered to face off against Richards at next week’s Doha Diamond League meet, where multiple world medallist Marie-Josée Ta Lou (Ivory Coast) and Nigeria’s national record holder Blessing Okagbare are also expected to be a part of the field.  Thomspon-Herah is the second-fastest woman this season having clocked a time of 10.78 in Florida last month.

Thompson-Herah beats Fraser-Pryce to top of T&F News 2020 100m podium

The magazine, considered the bible of the sport, has selected the three best athletes in each discipline ranking them for gold, silver and bronze, based on their performances during the season.

The three athletes selected in the Women’s 100m were unbeaten during the season but for T&FNews, Elaine Thompson was their gold medalist by virtue of her world-leading 10.85 in Rome on September 17. The 2016 double Olympic champion also ran 10.87 in Doha on September 25 to close the season.

The Jamaican national record holder also had another sub-11 clocking in a 10.92 run at the National Stadium in Kingston on August 22, near where she ran a wind-aided 10.73 at Jamaica College on July 25.

The silver medal was awarded to the four-time World 100m champion, whose season-best 10.86 came at the National Stadium in Kingston on August 22. The two-time Olympic 100m champion also ran 10.87 at the same venue earlier that month.

Upcoming star Sha’carri Richardson was the bronze medalist based on her 10.95 run at the Montverde Academy in Florida on August 11. The 2019 NCAA 100m gold medalist and U20 world record holder also had wind-aided times of 10.79 and 10.83, times that galvanizes the legitimacy of her 10.75 personal best.

Thompson-Herah eyes successful defense of Olympic titles in Tokyo

If she has her way, if the Olympics are held in Tokyo next year, she will be in a pantheon of one- the only female sprinter to successfully defend an Olympic sprint double at the same Olympics.

She believes it is possible but it depends on one key factor.

“(Being) healthy is key because when I am healthy I am in the best shape of my life, I don’t think I have reached that yet. I just want to maintain that health. I really want to capture back my double at the Olympics,” she said while speaking on the Drive Phase Podcast with host Dalton Myers.

“I want to retain my titles.”

When she won the sprint double in Rio, the achievement thrust her into the global spotlight as one of the greatest-ever female sprinters and made her a national treasure in a country known for athletic icons like Herb McKenley, Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt.

However, unlike Fraser-Pryce and Bolt, Thompson-Herah has so far failed to build on that legacy. Injury and illness robbed her of possible gold medals at the 2017 World Championships in London and again at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, where she finished fourth in the 100m final, having gone into the meet with the joint fastest time in the world.

She said she doesn’t intend to dwell on those disappointments and will continue to work hard, hoping that that elusive World Championships gold medal will soon be hanging from her neck.

Meantime, she has other goals in mind.

 “I still want to get below that 10.7 barrier,” said the woman who shares Jamaica’s national record of 10.70 with two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

“I think I have it in me. It’s just about the time for it to come.”

She also believes she can go faster than her 200m 21.66 PB set in 2015 when she won the silver medal at the World Championships in Beijing, China.

“Once I am healthy anything is possible,” she said.

Thompson-Herah has no plans to target Irinia Privalova's 29-y-o 60m world record

The World Female Athlete of the Year and nominee for Laureus Sportswoman of the Year is down to compete at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix on February 19 and at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup Indoor meet in Torun, Poland three days later, fueling speculation that following up on her success in Tokyo last year, that she would be attempting to break Irina Privalova’s record of 6.92 that has been on the books since February 11, 1993.

However, when Sportsmax.TV asked the five-time Olympic gold medalist if she harboured ambitions of breaking the record, emphatically dismissed the notion.

“I am not targeting the world record as I am not altering my program for indoor competition,” said Thompson-Herah, whose personal best of 6.98 was set on February 18, 2017.

She indicated that her reason for competing indoors is not about the record but is part of her preparation for the coming outdoor season.

“My indoor meets are for the improvement of my overall 100m race but I am feeling great that means anything is possible,” she said while suggesting that she is still mulling whether to compete at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia in March.

 “I haven’t decided yet on World Indoors, just taking it a step at a time,” she said.

Incidentally, Thompson-Herah’s 6.98 is tied for eighth all-time with compatriot and rival Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who ran her time in Poland in March 2014.

Last month, Thompson-Herah ran a 60m race outdoors in 7.19 (-1.9m/s) at the Queens/Grace Jackson Meet in Kingston.

Thompson-Herah leads Jamaica 1-2-3 - breaks longstanding Olympic record

In a superb display of sprinting, the Jamaican powered to the line in a time of 10.61, the fastest in the world this year, and now the second-fastest in history.  Fraser-Pryce, the world champion, who had gone into the event as favourite, was second with a time of 10.74, with Jackson, previously a 400m athlete who stepped down to the sprints earlier this year, third in 10.76.

Heading into the Games, it was Fraser-Pryce who had received all of the headlines, as the 34-year-old looked to be in prime position to secure a historic third Olympic gold medal in the event.  She had run the fastest time in the world at 10.63 and netted a win over both her compatriots at the Jamaica National Championships.

Thompson-Herah had, however, looked in superb form since and sent warning signs when she effortlessly coasted to win in 10.82 to open the competition.  She then followed that up with another fast 10.76 clocking, in the semi-final, run in a manner that suggested she plenty left in the tank.  She clearly did.

Thompson-Herah’s time also broke the Olympic record set by American Florence Griffith Joyner at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Thompson-Herah smokes field at Prefontaine Classic, Richardson fails to deliver

Fresh off an impressive triumph at the Tokyo Games, Thompson-Herah was in no mood to slow down, and in fact, went considerably faster.  The Jamaican pulled away from compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the final metres of the race to stop the clock at 10.54, just .05 second outside of the world record set by the United States' Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.

In almost identical fashion to Tokyo, Fraser-Pryce was second in 10.73, with Shericka Jackson third in 10.76.

Prior to the race, a lot of the attention was focussed on the return of flamboyant United States sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson who missed out on a match-up with the Jamaica trio at the Olympics, after serving a brief suspension for testing positive for marijuana. 

Expectations had been heightened for the sprinter’s return after emphatically winning the US trials before the Games.  In Eugene, however, she was nowhere to be found.  Richardson got away slowly and never got into the race, ending at the back of the field in a pedestrian 11.14.  Thompson-Herah now has the two fastest times outside of the longstanding world record set by Griffith-Joyner.

 

Thompson-Herah to miss second straight Diamond League meet

According to an announcement made by organisers last week, Thompson-Herah was expected to clash with compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Marie-Josee Ta over the 100m distance.

However, earlier this week, when the start list was announced the athlete’s name was nowhere to be seen.  It was a similar situation last weekend, where weeks before, many had expected the athlete to make her season debut at the Gateshead Diamond League meet against Richardson and Fraser-Pryce.

The early season, high stakes Gateshead clash was won by Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, prior to the race Richardson had clocked the season’s fastest time with 10.72.  Thompson-Herah is the second-fastest woman in the world this year with her time of 10.78 seconds.

Fraser-Pryce, the Doha 2019 world champion, ran the 100m for the first time in Gateshead, where she finished fourth in 11.51.  Thompson-Herah, who has a best of 10.70, the same as Fraser-Pryce and Richardson (10.72) are three of the fast women in history over the distance having clocked the joint-fourth and sixth fastest times over the distance.