Jamaica’s Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, on Sunday, recorded the second-fastest women’s 100m timing of all time at the Eugene Diamond League. American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson finished last. 

Thompson-Herah clocked a new world lead of 10.54 seconds. Only The United States’ Florence Griffith-Joyner had recorded a better timing, 10.49 seconds, in 1988. The 29-year-old national colleagues Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson were second and third respectively. 

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“To come back with a (personal best) after the championships, that is amazing. I haven’t run that fast in five years,” said Thompson-Herah. The 29-year-old further added that she was confident she could break the 200m record as well.

“I have so much more in me, so yes, it’s possible,” she said.

Elaine Thompson-Herah retained her 100m-200m title double at the Tokyo Olympics last month. Fraser-Pryce and Jackson were second and third there too. 

However, American Sha’Carri Richardson, who missed the Olympics because of a one-month suspension after testing positive for marijuana, failed to make a mark. She finished last. 

“It was a great return back to the sport. I wanted to be able to come and perform. Having the month off, dealing with all I had to deal with, I’m not upset with myself at all. This is one race, I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of. Count me out if you want to, because I’m here to stay,” the 21-year-old said. 

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The 200m race was won by Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji. American Gabrielle Thomas finished second, 0,08 seconds ahead of United Kingdon’s world champion Dina Asher-Smith, who had a disappointing Olympics due to a hamstring injury. 

Only earlier this season Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had become the second-fastest woman in history after recording 10.63 seconds. Thomson-Herrah, 10.61 seconds, beat the time in Tokyo. 

Tokyo bronze medallist Andre de Grasse won the men’s 100m event by clocking 9.74 seconds. Americans Fred Kerley and Ronnie Baker finished second and third with  9.78 and 9.82 seconds respectively.

“I didn’t feel like I really executed that day in the Olympic finals, I didn’t get off the blocks. Today I feel like I did a good job of coming off the blocks and my transition was good so I knew it was going to be a good race after that,” said de Grasse.

The next stop on the Diamond League tour is Lausanne on Thursday, before Paris next Saturday.