Thompson-Herah, Richardson renew rivalry

Nine months after their last encounter produced the second-fastest women’s 100 metres time ever, double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and American Sha’Carri Richardson will face each other in the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, this afternoon.

Both Thompson-Herah and Richardson headline a strong field in the event at 3:33 p.m Jamaica time. The event also features Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallist Shericka Jackson, Olympic 4x100m gold medallist Briana Williams and reigning World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain.

The last time both women competed against each other was last August when Thompson-Herah led a Jamaican sweep, clocking 10.54 seconds. Richardson finished ninth in the event. Reflecting back on the race in her pre-race press conference yesterday, Thompson-Herah said that it is in moments when she feels not at her best is when she surprises herself with world-class performances.

“To be honest it was surprising due to the fact that I came off a championship (Tokyo Olympics) which I doubled up. And I flew from Europe to here (Oregon) not expecting that time. And I always tell people that when I feel sluggish or slow, that’s when I run the fastest time,” Thompson-Herah said.

BACK FROM INJURY

She will be making her Diamond League debut on the site of this year’s World Athletic Championships after pulling out of the Birmingham meet last Saturday. Thompson-Herah said that a shoulder injury picked up last month led to her skipping the meet, competing instead at the Jubilee Series at the National Stadium. Jackson has competed in two Diamond League events so far, with her most recent being her second-place finish in the 100m in Birmingham. Richardson opened her season last week Saturday in Florida, clocking 11.27.

Reigning world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will compete in the 200m event facing world indoor champion Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland and Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas and MVP Track Club at 4:33 p.m. Fraser-Pryce, who has the fastest 100m time in the world this year with 10.67, said that she is looking forward to taking advantage of the fast track at Hayward Field for a strong 200m performance.

“Being able to have that competition to know where you are at and what you need to work on is always good. So I’m always excited to be here because it’s a fast track as well and everybody loves fast times,” Fraser-Pryce said. “I know that my 100m has definitely been superb. I have been working on a lot of things in practice and I am hoping to carry that over to the 200m and hopefully, I will have one of those fast times as well,” Fraser-Pryce said.

Meanwhile, Jaheel Hyde and Kemar Mowatt will compete in the men’s 400m hurdles event at 3:04 p.m. Hyde opened his Diamond League campaign in Doha two weeks ago, finishing fifth in 50.23. Mowatt currently has a season’s best of 49.48. Former world champion hurdler Danielle Williams will compete in the women’s 100m hurdles at 3:43 p.m.

Pan American Games gold medallist Natoya Goule will line up in the 800m for her second race of the outdoor season in the discipline. She made her Diamond League debut last week in Birmingham, finishing third in 2:00.13 minutes.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Schedule for Jamaican athletes

3:04 p.m Men’s 400m Hurdles: Jaheel Hyde and Kemar Mowatt

3:33 p.m Women’s 100m: Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, Briana Williams

3:43 p.m Women’s 100m hurdles: Danielle Williams

4:06 p.m Women’s 800m: Natoya Goule

4:33 p.m: Women’s 200m: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce