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Dash cash! - With US$100,000, Thompson among top 10 Diamond League earners

Published:Monday | September 12, 2016 | 12:00 AMDania Bogle
AP
Elaine Thompson (left) of Jamaica wins the women’s 100m race at the Athletissima Diamond League international athletics meeting in the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland, ahead of Jenna Prandini of the USA, on Thursday, August 25.

Not only did the Jamaican win the 100 metres and 200 metres gold medals at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Diamond League Trophy for the 100m, Thompson has also emerged as one of the top 10 moneymakers of the 2016 IAAF Diamond League with earnings of US$100,000.

Thompson capped a brilliant season with a 10.72-second victory in the 100m to win the Diamond Trophy at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels last Friday.

The athlete, who is a member of the University of Technology-based MVP Track and Field Club, is in joint fifth place among the Diamond League moneymakers.

The Jamaican is tied with 100m hurdles world record holder, Kendra Harrison of the United States; 3,000m steeplechase runner Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya; pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie of France; and Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya of South Africa.

Only discus thrower Sandra Perkovic of Croatia and Olympic 200m silver medallist, Dafne Schippers of The Netherlands, with US$110,000 each; triple jumper Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia (US$106,000) and Olympic long jump bronze medallist Ivana Spanovic of Serbia (US$102,000) have earned more.

The Diamond Trophy winners earn US$40,000, with race winners taking home $10,000 for a first-place finish; $6,000 for second; $4,000 for third; $3,000 for fourth; $2,500 for fifth; $2,000 for sixth; $1,500 for seventh and $1,000 for eighth.

In addition to securing the Diamond Trophy, Thompson also won five races throughout the season - in Rabat, Rome, Lausanne, Zurich and Brussels, and finished second in Oslo and third in Eugene.

A few other Jamaicans were also among the leading earners in the Diamond League.

The 400m Diamond Trophy winner Stephenie-Ann McPherson, with US$75,000, was the 28th highest earner.

Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell was not far behind, having earned US$56,000 to be 32nd on the list.

Olympic 110-metre hurdles champion Omar McLeod earned US$29,000 and was 53rd.

Simone Facey and Julian Forte earned US$20,500 each at 88th and 89th, respectively; Veronica Campbell-Brown (94th), Damar Forbes (95th) and Janieve Russell (100th), all earning US$20,000.

Other Jamaicans who earned above $10,000 in Diamond League winnings were 400m runner Novlene Williams-Mills (US$17,000), triple jumper Kimberley Williams (US$14,500); sprint hurdler Hansle Parchment (US$12,000) and 400m hurdler and former Diamond champion, Kaliese Spencer (US$11,500).