Jamaica Observer: By Paul A Reid – Jamaican ElaineThompson-Herah, the repeat Olympic sprint double champion, put the stamp on her brilliant 2021 season by winning the Wanda Diamond League 100m final at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, running a Weltklasse meet record 10.65 seconds (0.6m/s) yesterday.
After an ordinary start Thompson-Herah blew past the field with a devastating second half of the race as Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith ran a season best 10.87 seconds for second and Ajla del Ponte of Switzerland was third in 10.93 seconds.
Jamaica’s other entrant Natasha Morrison was seventh in 11.10 seconds.
Thompson-Herah has put together the greatest season ever by a female 100m runner, carving out a path of destruction after the Jamaican national championships in late June when she ran under 10.70 seconds four times, including yesterday, highlighted by her national record 10.54 seconds, the second fastest time ever and Olympic record 10.61 seconds.
She also ran five times under 10.80 seconds and described the season as “a crazy season, a long one and a tiring one”. “I was so consistent because I was just keeping the faith in me and did not allow any negativity,” Thompson-Herah said.
She added: “I am really happy and grateful. I am tired now but this is my job. I would describe this season with one word: amazing, yet it had ups and downs.”
After coming closest to Florence-Griffiths almost mythical time set at the American Trials in Indianapolis in 1988, Thompson-Herah said,“This year, it was a long season with ups and downs, but next year, the world record is definitely on my mind”.
