Two-time Olympic sprint double champion Elaine Thompson-Herah had an unexpected and challenging start to her 2024 season at the Prefontaine Classic, held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday.
The 31-year-old lined up for the 100m at the fifth meet of this season’s Diamond League calendar but finished ninth with a time of 11.30 seconds. The race was won by hometown hero Sha’Carri Richardson, who clocked a season-best 10.83 seconds.
Reflecting on her performance, Thompson-Herah took to Instagram to share her thoughts. “Definitely not what I expected today but grateful,” she wrote. “Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”
A difficult 2023 season
Thompson-Herah, now under the guidance of coach Reynaldo Walcott at Elite Performance Track Club, is on a mission to reclaim the form that saw her achieve Olympic glory in 2016 and 2021. The Jamaican sprint star had a difficult 2023 season, plagued by injuries that hindered her performance and kept her from qualifying for any individual events at the World Championships in Budapest. Nevertheless, she still managed to secure a silver medal as part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team.
The latter part of the 2023 season saw a resurgence in Thompson-Herah’s form. She posted impressive times of 10.92 and 10.84 seconds to win at the Gala dei Castelli and the Brussels Diamond League, respectively. She capped off her season with a strong 10.79-second performance for third place at the Prefontaine Classic in September.
As Thompson-Herah embarks on her 2024 campaign, she remains focused on building momentum and regaining her championship-winning form. Her journey, though beginning with a less-than-ideal performance, reflects her resilience and determination to succeed.
