Elaine Thompson-Herah wins at Tokyo 2020
Elaine Thompson-Herah wins at Tokyo 2020

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The final of the women’s 100 metres was expected to be a spectacle and certainly lived up to expectations as reigning Olympic 100 metres champion Elaine Thompson-Herah lead a Jamaican trifecta. 

At the Beijing 2008 games, Jamaica, led by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and joint second place finishers Sherone Simpson and Keron Stewart, took all the 100m medals.

Thompson-Herah produced a stellar performance to set a national and Olympic record of 10.61 seconds. She erased Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce’s national record of 10.63 seconds set in June 2021 and Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 10.62 seconds set in 1988. 

The defending champion hit top gear around the mid-way mark to separate herself from teammate and two-time women’s 100m Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce. Fraser Pryce ran 10.74 seconds to hold off a fast-finishing Shericka Jackson, competing in her first major 100m final. The 2016 Olympic 400m bronze medallist ran a personal best of 10.76 seconds. 

“I am really excited to come back and retain my title. My chest hurts, I am so happy,” Thompson-Herah said.

“I could have gone faster if I wasn’t pointing and celebrating early. But that shows there is more in store so hopefully one day I can unleash that time.”

Natoya Goule advances to Olympic Games 800m final

Natoya Goule secured her spot in the 800 metres final after comfortably winning her semi-final in 1:59.57 seconds. Goule, who will be competing in her first Olympic final, will be hunting for a podium finish when she faces the starter on the 3rd of August. 

The Jamaican mixed 4×400 metres relay team was only able to manage seventh, crossing the line 3:14.95 seconds in the final, which went to Poland in a new Olympic record of 3:09.87 seconds.

Chad Wright had to settle for ninth in the men’s discus final with a best throw of 62.56 metres. 

World long jump champion Tajay Gayle and teammate Carey McLeod took to the runway in the men’s long jump. Gayle, who fouled his first attempt, had to get medical assistance after landing awkwardly on his second jump. However, he was not denied a spot in the final as he leapt 8.14 metres on his third and final attempt. McLeod did not advance after a best jump of 7.75 metres on his second attempt. 

Jamaica’s national men’s 100 metres champion Tyquendo Tracey was a no show in the first heat of the men’s 100 metres. He pulled out because of an injury.

Tracey put out a statement: “ I was not able to compete. A few days ago, while training, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my leg while running from the blocks. The pain was enough for me to have to stop training for the evening. I did an ultrasound which indicated that something happened, but it didn’t appear to be that bad of an injury. While warming up this morning/evening, the pain only got worst. I didn’t share this before because I was hopeful I would be okay by today. Unfortunately, things did not work out that way.”

However, teammates Oblique Seville and Yohan Blake secured their spots in the semi-finals. Oblique Seville was second in heat number four in a personal best of 10.04 seconds. 

Four-time Olympic medallist and second fastest man of all time over 100 and 200 metres, Yohan Blake had to settle for second in heat number seven, clocking 10.06 seconds. Jason Rogers representing Saint Kitts and Nevis, was Third in heat number four in a time of 10.21 seconds and advanced to the semi-finals. 

Antiguan sprinter Cejhae Greene ran in heat number six but failed to advance to the semi-final. 

At the end of the second day of track and field, Jamaica finished atop the medal’s table with one gold, one silver and a bronze.

Medal Table
RANK COUNTRY       TOTAL
3 Ethiopia 1 0 0 1
2 Sweden 1 1 0 2
3 Poland 1 0 0 1
1 Jamaica 1 1 1 3
5 Uganda 0 1 1 2
7 Austria 0 0 1 1
6 Dominican Republic 0 1 0 1
7 United States 0 0 1 1

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