Thompson Herah to test fitness against Richardson

A clash between 2023 World champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States and Jamaica’s Olympic champion Elaine Thompson Herah over 100 metres will be one of the highlights of Thursday’s Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League meet in Switzerland.

Thirteen Jamaicans, including 200 metres gold medallist Shericka Jackson, will be in action at the meet. Jackson will run in the 200m.

Thompson Herah, the double double Olympic sprint champion and fastest woman alive in the event, with a best of 10.54 seconds, will contest the individual event for the first time since finishing fifth at the National Championships in June. She ran an excellent second leg in the preliminary round of the women’s 4x100m in Budapast, and after being left out for the final, will want to prove something here. Her season’s best is 11.06.

The event will also include Jamaicans Shashalee Forbes and Natasha Morrison, Richardson’s teammates Twaneisha Terry and Tamara Clarke along with Daryll Neita of Great Britain, Poland’s Ewa Swoboda, and Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland.

Jackson, who ran a national record 21.41 seconds to win the 200m at the World Championships, will face the silver medallist from Budapast, American Gabrielle Thomas, Neita of Great Britain, and Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas in the half-lap event.

Following her major upset win in the 100m hurdles final in Budapest, Jamaica’s Danielle Williams will oppose a very strong line up in Zurich. The field will include silver medallist Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico and bronze medallist Kendra Harrison of the United States. Also in the field will be finalists Nia Ali of the United States and Devyne Charlton of the Bahamas.

In other events involving Jamaicans, Natoya Goule-Toppin and Adelle Tracy will contest the women’s 800m while Shanieka Ricketts and Kimberly Williams will compete in the triple jump. The three triple jump medallists in Budapest -Yulimer Rojas of Venezuela, silver medallist Maryna Romanchuk of Ukraine, and bronze medallist Leyanis Perez Hernandes of Cuba– will also be in Zurich.

Long jump bronze medallist Tajay Gayle will be one of three Jamaican males in action. Gayle, who produced a season’s best 8.27m in Budapest, will be joined by countryman Carey McLeod. McLeod was fourth in Budapest, also with 8.27m.

After his World Under-20 record run of 47.34 seconds in the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles in Budapest, Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke will make his Diamond League debut in the event. Clarke, who was fourth in the final, will face gold medallist Kerston Warholm of Norway, silver medallist Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands, and Rai Benjamin of the United States, who took the bronze. Also in the line-up will be fifth-place finisher Allison Dos Santos of Brazil.