Elaine
Thompson-Herah, a five-time Olympic champion, became the fastest woman in the 100-metre dash this year with a timing of 10.89 seconds on Saturday at the Golden
Games in Walnut, California.

In her first
outdoor competition of the season, the Jamaican won her semi-final. She chose
not to compete in the final and gave no reason for her decision.

“Feels
good to be back. Season opener 10:89,” the 29-year-old said on Twitter.
Thompson-Herah had a breakout season in 2021 and was the crowd favourite to
win the 100m race in the USATF Golden Games when she competed.

She was the
odds-on favourite to win the finals since she had set such a high standard.
However, the world’s fastest lady skipped the medal round. Elaine made the decision, according to sources, because of the unforeseen
wind scenario. She was joined by her fellow countrywoman Briana Williams, Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Ahye.

After Elaine
was unable to compete in the finals, Team USA swept the 100m
event. Twanisha Terry, a 23-year-old, won the event in 10.77 seconds. Gabrielle
Thomas of Team USA came in second at 10.86 seconds, followed by Teahna Daniels who clocked 10.91 seconds.

Gabrielle
Thomas had a strong day on the field as she also won first place in the 200m
event, clocking a time of 22.02 seconds. In the men’s event, the versatile king
Fred Kerley won the 200m race in 19.80 seconds, beating off Michael Norman and
Rai Benjamin, who finished in 19.83 seconds and 20.01 seconds, respectively. Her biggest rivals, Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce and Sha’Carri Richardson were also absent from the race.

Thompson-Herah
became the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic sprint doubles in Tokyo last year,
retaining her 100m and 200m crowns and capping off a remarkable Olympic Games with gold
in the 4x100m relay.

Elsewhere, in the field, Trinidad and Tobago’s Tyra Gittens will do battle with the USA’s Vashti Cunningham in the high jump.