Thompson Herah opens 200m campaign
Olympic champion on show at Tom Jones Memorial Invitational meet in Gainesville, Florida
Published:Friday | April 14, 2023 | 1:12 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
After almost a month since her last meet, ‘double-double’ Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah will return to action, opening her 2023 200 metres campaign at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational meet, which starts today in Florida.
Thompson-Herah who won the 100m-200m double at both the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021, highlights the Jamaican contingent that will be participating in the two-day meet. Many will begin their season debuts in their speciality areas, while others will be making their season debuts. Thompson will line up for her first half-lap race of the season at 4:30 p.m. (Jamaica time) today along with compatriot Junelle Bromfield, who will be opening her season in the 200m and 400m.
It will be Thompson-Herah’s first meet since March 18 at the John Wolmer track meet and her fourth meet of the season after competing in the 400m and two 60m races earlier this year. Last season she ran her first 200m in May, clocking 22.75 seconds.
Thompson said in February after her 60m win at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson meet that there was no difference in pressure from previous years to claim her first world title.
BEST SEASON
“You focus on one season (at a time). Even though last year wasn’t the best season, I still have to move past that. I just have to continue to put in the work. Each season speaks for itself, and I know this will be a good one,” Thompson said.
Sachin Dennis, Nigel Ellis, and Julian Forte will face the likes of Olympic 200m champion Andre DeGrasse and world 200m champion Noah Lyles in the 100m tomorrow afternoon, with Ellis and Lyles doubling up to compete in the 200m as well this afternoon at 5 p.m. Jamaica time. Natoya Goule will open her season in the 400m tomorrow and will be facing compatriot Stacy Ann Williams as well as former Olympic and world 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad at 2:20 p.m.
World under-20 100m hurdles champion Kerrica Hill will compete in her first senior event in the discipline, facing her compatriot, former world champion Danielle Williams, as well as current world 100m hurdles champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan and former world champion Nia Ali at 1:40 p.m. tomorrow. Hill has only competed in two races so far this season which were at the Gibson Relays in February. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell will also open his 110m hurdles campaign at the meet tomorrow and will face reigning world champion Grant Holloway for the first time this season. The race is set for 1:50 p.m.
In the field, 2019 world championships shot put silver medalist Danniel Thomas-Dodd will be competing in what will be her second outdoor event of the season today, while high jumper Shauntae Foreman will compete in her second meet of the season tomorrow, after finishing 11th in her season opener on April 1.