Thu | Jan 9, 2025

‘This has lifted my spirits’

• Thompson Herah puts World Championships disappointment behind her • Takes aim at third gold medal of Commonwealth Games

Published:Sunday | August 7, 2022 | 12:12 AMKeith McGhie - Contributor
Pause
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women’s 200 metres during the athletics competition in the Alexander Stadium at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, yesterday.
AP photo
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women’s 200 metres during the athletics competition in the Alexander Stadium at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, yesterday.
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the women’s 200 metres during the athletics competition in the Alexander Stadium at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, yesterday.
AP photo
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the women’s 200 metres during the athletics competition in the Alexander Stadium at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, yesterday.
1
2

COMMONWEALTH SPRINT queen Elaine Thompson Herah has inferred that she is not content with a dominant double and now hopes to be included in the quartet that contests the 4x100m relay final this morning at 6:54 Jamaica time.

The double Olympic champion effortlessly added a second gold medal to the 100m success earlier in a hectic five-day period in which she has already raced no fewer than six times.

As in the shorter sprint, Thompson Herah seemed to barely get into top gear yet still smashed Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s Games record for the half-lap race.

The Banana Ground, Manchester missile rocketed from the blocks and had, barring disaster, clinched victory before the stagger unwound coming onto the home straight.

She stopped the clock in 22.02 seconds – seven hundredths of a second quicker than the Bahamian had run in Gold Coast four years ago.

An elated and relaxed Thompson Herah reflected:

“I wanted to dip below 22 seconds but still came away with a Games record.

“It’s Independence Day, so this one is for them (the people of Jamaica).

“The 200 in the World Championship wasn’t the execution that I wanted. This has lifted my spirits.”

The Jamaican superstar has been fervently welcomed by capacity crowds at a Commonwealths marginally blighted by the absence of a number of big names so close to July’s World Championships, and Thompson Herah continued:

“The crowd has been very warm and welcoming and I appreciate the support that I have had from the crowds here in Birmingham.

“My confidence is always high and I’ve come here to have fun and then focus on the races I have ahead of me.

I think I need a break now and then a couple of Diamond league meets before the end of the season.”

Asked about a seventh and last outing as part of the sprint relay team for today’s final, she said enthusiastically:

“Most definitely – that would be a bonus and it’s a group thing, so I want us to get that gold as well!”

Earlier, Natalliah Whyte, who ran a superb fourth place in the 200m final, had teamed up with Kemba Nelson, Remona Burchell, and Roneisha McGregor to ease Jamaica through the relay semi-finals in 43.66 – fifth fastest of the eight qualifiers but with Thompson Herah now likely to be added.