Thompson Herah patient in world record pursuit
Six Jamaicans make Diamond League bid today
Published:Sunday | June 5, 2022 | 12:12 AM
DOUBLE OLYMPIC sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah is exercising patience in a bid to achieve a number of first this season.
Thompson Herah, since clocking 10.54 seconds last season, has been eyeing a world record that has stood since 1988, and is looking for her first World Championships title when she competes at the global event in Oregon this year.
That patience will be on display even as Thompson Herah looks to continue an unbeaten streak at today’s Diamond League meet at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
Thompson Herah is leading a strong Jamaican contingent at the meet, and goes into a race including countrywoman Natasha Morrison, World Championships silver medallist Marie Ta Lou and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan of MVP track club. The Diamond League 100 begins at 1:28 p.m.
Thompson Herah has won all her 100m events this year, clocking a season’s best of 10.79 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic on May 28.
In a pre-race press conference yesterday, Thompson Herah said that while she is not currently in world record-breaking shape, she is on the right path to getting there.
“I would love to break the world record, but I am in no rush. If I don’t get it this year, I have next year and the year after. I had some challenges this year early on so I don’t think I am in the best shape right now,” Thompson Herah said.
“I want to hit that world record. I know that I can do it. I have that in me. I just have to get my body, my mind and everything ready on that day. Because you don’t want to think about a record and then your body is not doing what you want it to do. You have to get everything together on that day and I don’t think I’m in that shape right now. But I am working on that.”
SHOULDER INJURY
The challenges for her included a shoulder injury which resulted in her opting out of the Diamond League meet in Birmingham last month as a precaution, choosing to compete at home at the Jubilee Series.
Thompson Herah, one of the most successful sprinters in Olympic history, still feels something is missing.
“I only have a silver medal at the World Championships and I think that’s important to add (a World Championships gold medal) to the tally. I am working towards that. I don’t want to only be an Olympic baby. I want to taste that gold from the World Championships,” Thompson Herah said. “And the fact that it is closer to home this year, I will be more flexible and comfortable going to achieve that.”
Meanwhile, Stephenie Ann McPherson will line up in the women’s 400m at 1:04 p.m, for her second competitive race in the event this season. McPherson opened her Diamond League campaign in Doha on May 13, finishing second in 51.69.
After a strong domestic season, World Championships discus silver medallist Fedrick Dacres will open his international slate for the year in the men’s discus throw at 1:25 p.m., where he will be facing World and Olympic champion Daniel Stahl of Sweden and Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh, who currently has the world-leading distance of 71.27m, set on May 21 in Birmingham. Dacres currently has a season’s best of 65.98.
World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts will be competing in her first meet in two weeks in the women’s triple jump at 1:43 p.m, while Jaheel Hyde will face Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway in the men’s 400m hurdles at 2:27 p.m.
Schedule for Jamaican athletes
- Women’s 400m 1:04 p.m
- Stephenie Ann McPherson
- Men’s Discus 1:25 p.m
- Fedrick Dacres
- Women’s 100 1:28 p.m
- Elaine Thompson Herah
- Natasha Morrison
- Triple Jump Women 1:43 p.m
- Shanieka Ricketts
- Men’s 400mh 2:27 p.m
- Jaheel Hyde