Richardson Sublime, Thompson Herah Not So Much
Courtesy of World Athletics Sha’Carri Richardson (right) looks determined as she comes through the line in the 100 metres at the Eugene Diamond League yesterday. Côte d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, who finished sixth, is also pictured.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
AN EXPECTED mega Women’s 100 metres clash at yesterday’s Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, between Olympic champion Elaine Thompson Herah of Jamaica and world champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States turned into a mismatch with the latter looking in supreme condition when compared to the former’s slow opener.
Richardson won in a season-best 10.83 seconds ahead of St Lucia’s Julian Alfred, who also clocked her quickest this year, finishing in 10.93.
Richardson took control of the race very early, unlike the Jamaican who struggled out of the blocks and at no stage showed any willingness to get among the leaders. Thompson Herah finished in a disappointing 11.30 seconds, her slowest opener since 2015, which was only good enough for ninth.
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith closed out the top three, also in a season’s best 10.98.
Jamaican athletes found the going very tough yesterday as only World Championships triple jump silver medallist, Shanieka Ricketts, was able to finish in the top three.
Ricketts had a season’s season-best jump of 14.67 metres for third.
Cuba’s Leyanis Hernandez Perez won with 14.73, ahead of World Indoor gold medallist, Tea Lafond of Dominica, second with 14.67.
Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams ended seventh with a best leap of 13.74.
Sprinter Ackeem Blake, sprint hurdler Hansle Parchment and 400-metre hurdler Roshawn Clarke finished fourth in their respective events.
Blake never recovered from an average start to clock 10.12 seconds in the 100, while the vastly improved Sandrey Davison ended fifth in a personal best 10.13.
The United States Christian Coleman won in a season’s best 9.95, holding on to pip the fast-finishing Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, second in a season’s best 9.98. Brandon Hicklin of the United States was third in 10.08.
Young Clarke had the best finish of the Jamaicans in the men’s 400-metre hurdles. The fast-starting Clarke led for the majority of the race but faded to fourth in 49.07 seconds. Gerald Drummond of Costa Rica won in a season’s best 48.56. Malik Smith-James was fifth in 49.51, while Jaheel Hyde’s struggles continued, finishing ninth in 49.83.
Tokyo Olympic Games 110m hurdles champion, Hansle Parchment, had to settle for fourth in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.28 seconds. World champion Grant Holloway of the United States won the event in a season’s best and world-leading 13.03. Countrymen Daniel Roberts (13.13) and Freddie Crittenden (13.16) were second and third respectively.
Danielle Williams ended sixth in the 100-metre hurdles in 12.65, thrower Rajindra Campbell was seventh in the men’s shot put with a heave of 20.02 metres, and Natoya Goule-Toppin was ninth in the women’s 800 metres in 1:59.52 minutes.