Thompson Herah opens 200m campaign with second-place finish
Published:Saturday | April 15, 2023 | 1:17 AM
Olympic ‘double-double’ sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah began her 200 metres campaign yesterday with a second-place finish in the event at the Tom Jones Invitational meet in Gainesville, Florida.
Thompson Herah clocked 23.23 seconds in a field that included her compatriot Junelle Bromfield who finished sixth in 23.72. The race was won by Melissa Jefferson of the United States who won in 23.02 with her countrywoman Felicia Brown Edwards finishing third in 23.42. Thompson Herah’s 23.23 is slower than last year’s 200m season opener when she clocked 22.75 on May 7 for victory in the first meet of the Jubilee Series.
It was Thompson Herah’s fourth race of the season and her first since March 18 when she competed in the 400m at the John Wolmer Track meet at the National Stadium in Kingston. Including her 400m outing, she had competed in three previous events which included two 60m races, one outdoor in Kingston and one indoor in Norway.
Meanwhile, St Lucia’s Julian Alfred, who attends the University of Texas clocked the fastest time in the world this year when she won the 200m college event in 21.91. Meanwhile, World 200m champion Noah Lyles opened his season by clocking 20.16 to win the men’s 200m. Nigel Ellis of Elite Performance was fourth in that race with 21.01.
Today’s second day will see Lyles and Ellis compete in the 100m as well as the latter’s Elite Performance teammates Sachin Dennis, Julian Forte and Olympic 200m champion Andre DeGrasse at 3:55 p.m.
Natoya Goule will open her season in the 400m and will be facing compatriot Stacy Ann Williams as well as former Olympic and World 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad at 2:20 p.m.
World under-20 100m hurdles champion Kerrica Hill will compete in her first senior event in the discipline, facing her compatriot, former World champion Danielle Williams, as well as current World 100m hurdles champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan and former World champion Nia Ali at 1:40 p.m. Hill has only competed in two races so far this season which were at the Gibson Relays in February. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell will also open his 110m hurdles campaign at the meet and will face reigning world champion Grant Holloway for the first time this season. The race is set for 1:50 p.m.