Reigning double Olympic sprint queen, Elaine Thompson-Herah, says Thursday’s world-leading win had given her a clear outline of her form ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The Jamaican stormed to a swift 10.85 seconds victory at the Diamond League meet ahead of American Aleia Hobbs who was second in 11.12 and Marie Josée Ta Lou of Côte d’Ivoire who finished third in 11.14.
“I leave here with the world leading time. I am super excited. This tells me where I am at the end of this season, and tells me how I can prepare for next year. I am super excited,” an elated Thompson said afterwards.
“This year required me adjusting and the goal was to push back and motivate myself. I am the double Olympic champion and I want to be in top form next season.”
Running out of lane five, Thompson left the blocks quickly to assert herself early, with Hobbs in lane four attempting to stay with her and Ta Lou keeping tabs from lane seven.
However, Thompson had no equal over the last 40 metres as she motored to line well ahead of the competition, with Hobbs and Ta Lou hitting the line together for season-best finishes.
Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas finished last in 11.42.
The event was Thompson’s first outside of Jamaica this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has crippled international sport for most of the year.
And her time eclipsed that of countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who held the previous world’s fastest time of 10.86 seconds, recorded in Kingston last month.
Thompson, who became the first woman in 28 years to win both sprint finals at an Olympics when she dominated in Rio four years ago, said it had been refreshing to finally encounter strong rivalry.
“We had some competitions in Jamaica, but obviously the field was not as strong as it is here,” the 28-year-old pointed out.
In the men’s equivalent, Jamaican Julian Forte finished sixth in 10.15 seconds and Barbadian Mario Burke last in 10.34 as South African Akani Simbine claimed victory on 9.96.
CMC
