Eugene (United States) (AFP)
Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah is indeed the undisputed queen of the world sprint: the three-time Olympic champion from Tokyo signed on Saturday in Eugene for the resumption of the Diamond League the second best performance in history over 100 m in 10 sec 54 / 100th (wind: +0.9 m / s).
For her first competition since the 2020 Olympics, Thompson-Herah, 29, did not give details: as in Tokyo, she was clearly ahead of her compatriots Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.73) and Shericka Jackson (10.76) .
Above all, she succeeded with her 10 sec 54 / 100th nothing less than the second performance of all time, only 5 / 100th of the old and sulphurous world record set in July 1988 by the American Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49) .
After having dispossessed him of the Olympic record in Tokyo (10.61 against 10.62 in Seoul in September), Thompson-Herah can aim for the world record of "Flo-Jo", over which hangs suspicion.
"I think the record is within my reach, because I ran in 10.5 and I still have a lot in my stomach," said the Jamaican, who had already achieved the 100/200m double in Rio in 2016.
"Coming back after a big championship and beating my personal best is something incredible (...) It's something important for me, because my goal is to set an example in the news generations, ”she insisted.
- "I don't get carried away" -
"But I do not get carried away, I must continue to work," warned the five-time Olympic champion.
The dazzling straight line of Thompson-Herah has relegated to the background the return to competition of Sha'Carri Richardson, deprived of the Olympics after a positive test for cannabis.
The American did not get the revenge she wanted, finishing last in the 100m in 11 sec 14 / 100th, far from the Jamaican trio or even the three other finalists from Tokyo, the American Teahna Daniels (4th, 10.83) the Ivorian Marie-Josée Ta Lou (5th, 10.90) and the Swiss Mujinga Kambundji (7th, 10.96).
It's a big disappointment for the 21-year-old American sprinter, who was deprived of the Games after being suspended at the end of June for thirty days for using cannabis.
"It was a great comeback to competition," Richardson swept on NBC television after the race.
"I wanted to be able to come and run. After a month off, having faced everything I had to face, I don't blame myself at all."
"It's just a race, I'm not done. You know what I'm capable of. Put me aside if you want. Say all the bullshit you want. Because I'm here to stay. I am not finished, ”said the American.
"Congratulations to the winners, congratulations to those who won, but they haven't finished seeing me," she added, before forfeiting the 200m, won by Mujinga Kambundji (22.06, wind: +2.4 m / s).
- Lyles dominates the 200m -
The American Noah Lyles, who had to settle for the bronze medal in the 200m in Tokyo, took his revenge on his favorite distance with the best performance of the year (19.52, wind: + 1.5 m / dry).
"I was able to put aside what happened in Tokyo and trust myself by telling myself that I know I'm upset, but that I'm in great shape to run and come and prove it on the track," said declared the 2019 world champion and fourth best performer of all time over the distance.
Canadian Andre De Grasse, Olympic champion in the 200m, did not compete in the 200m, reserving for the 100m, which he won in the absence of Italian Marcell Jacobs, winner in Tokyo.
De Grasse won in 9.74 sec (wind: +2.9 m / sec), ahead of Tokyo Olympic vice-champion, the American Fred Kerley (9.78).
On the track of the next World Championships, in 2023, Kenyan Norah Jeruto also caused a sensation by setting the third fastest time in the history of the 3,000 m steeplechase, with a mark of 8: 53.65.
The American Athing Mu, Olympic champion in Tokyo, dominated the 800m, achieving the best world performance of the season with a time of 1: 55.04.
Finally, the American Ryan Crouser failed to improve his world record in the shot put set in Eugene last June (23.37m): the reigning two-time Olympic champion won with a throw of 23.15 mr.
© 2021 AFP