Congrats are in order for Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah who banked another first-place win at the Prefontaine Classic 100-meter race in Eugene, Oregon, yesterday (August 21, 2021) with a time of 10.54, breaking her own record and maintaining her place as the second fastest female runner of all time, a win that earned her a follow from fellow island girl Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
Fresh off of winning Olympic gold in Tokyo, Thompson-Herah’s time is second only to U.S. sprinter Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith Joyner whose best time is 10.49. In addition to the 100 meter, Thompson-Herah won gold in the 200 meter, and 4 x 100 meter relay, making her the first woman to win both the 100 meter and 200 meter at consecutive Olympics.
Like the Olympics, Jamaica once again swept the race with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.73) taking second place and Shericka Jackson (10.76) taking third place.
The race received an outsized level of attention because it marked he return of Houston-born sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson after she was disqualified from running in the Tokyo Olympics when she tested posted for marijuana, a banned substance.
A fan favorite in the United States for her vibrant personality, Richardson stirred the pot with team Jamaica a day before the race when she posted a visual inspired by a Nicki Minaj meme. With all eyes on Richardson, the 23-year-old finished dead last with a time of 11.14. Richardson’s time was well off her all time best 100-meter finish of 10.72.
When asked about Richardson in a post-race interview, Thompson-Herah brushed off the question, though in her Instagram Stories she retweeted multiple post trash talking the Dallas-born sprinter.
Check out Thompson-Herah and Richardson’s post-race interviews below.
