Shericka Jackson beat Sha'Carri Richardson, while Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah continued her resurgence at the Prefontaine Classic - Wanda Diamond League Final 2023
By Gary Smith
EUGENE, Ore. (Sept. 16) — At the Prefontaine Classic – Wanda Diamond League Final 2023, Shericka Jackson left no room for doubt, handing Sha’Carri Richardson a rare defeat in the 100-meters. Meanwhile, Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah signaled she’s back to best form, posting another season-best time with another impressive run.
Jackson, rebounding from a loss at the Budapest World Athletics Championships last month, took command in the second half of the sprint. The Jamaican two-time world 200m champion and joint second-fastest in the world this season, crossed the finish line in an impressive 10.70 seconds (+0.8 m/s), leaving Sha’Carri Richardson, the U.S. world champion, trailing in fourth with a time of 10.80 seconds.
Setting the early pace was Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, who eventually clocked in at 10.75 seconds to claim second place.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games sprint double champion from Jamaica, continued her comeback trail with a third-place finish, recording a time of 10.79 seconds for a big-time season-best.
The depth of talent was evident further down the ranks. Twanisha Terry of the United States notched a fifth-place finish with a time of 10.83 seconds.
She was followed by Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison, who set a personal best with 10.85 seconds. Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith also made her mark, breaking the 11-second barrier to finish seventh with a time of 10.96 seconds.