Thompson-Herah, Briana Williams in 100/200m showdown at NACAC New Life Invitational

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By taadmin 3 Min Read
Elaine Thompson-Herah and Briana Williams

Reigning double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah headlines a large field of world-class athletes down to compete at this weekend’s inaugural North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) New Life Invitational.

The World Athletics Continental Tour – Silver meet will be staged on Saturday (5 June), starting at 2 pm EST or 1 pm Jamaica time, at the Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, Florida, USA.

Thompson-Herah, who skipped Gateshead and Doha Diamond League meets, is entered in the women’s 100 metres and 200m events. The 100 field also includes her fellow Jamaicans Natasha Morrison and Briana Williams, Bahamian Tynia Gaither, Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste and American Tianna Bartoletta.

Thompson-Herah is second on the 2021 world outdoor performance list at 10.78 seconds, trailing only American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson (10.72).

Morrison is fourth with a 10.87 run, while Williams is 11th at 10.98. Gaither is also in the top 20, her 11.02 clocking placing her at number 13.

In the longer sprint, Thompson-Herah will be challenged by Williams, Gaither, Great Britain’s Jodie Williams and American Brittany Brown, the 2019 World Championship 200m silver medallist.

Brown, eighth on the 2021 global list at 22.43 seconds, is tipped for top honours in the NACAC New Life Invitational half-lap event.

Bartoletta, the 2016 Olympic Games long jump gold medallist, is on the entry list for her pet event.

Bartoletta will face strong challenges from fellow American Malaina Payton, Jamaica’s Chanice Porter, Briton Lorraine Ugen and Canadian Christabel Nettey.

The women’s 100m hurdles field is packed with quality, including Jamaica’s 2015 world champion Danielle Williams, Nigerian Tobi Amusan and American Christina Clemons.

Jamaican Chrisann Gordon-Powell and American Wadeline Jonathas go head-to-head in the women’s 400.

In the 400 hurdles, Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad takes on 2021 world leader Shamier Little (53.12). The two Americans, though, will not have things all their own way. The list of challengers includes in-form Jamaicans Rhonda Whyte and Shiann Salmon.

American Ajee Wilson is expected to dominate the women’s 800m. And in the women’s triple jump, Dominican Republic’s Ana Tima is the one to watch.

Among the men that will feature at the NACAC New Life Invitational are American sprint star Trayvon Bromell, 2021 100m world leader at 9.88 seconds, and Samoan discus thrower Alex Rose.

Some 200 athletes from 27 countries are expected to be on show at the NACAC New Life Invitational.

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