Fraser-Pryce, Jackson headline star-studded Diamond League Finals
As the end of the 2022 athletics season fast approaches, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson will face off in another highly anticipated clash in the women’s 100 metres at the star-studded Diamond League Finals in Zurich, Switzerland.
The blue ribbon event, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, will give Fraser-Pryce the opportunity to end her record-breaking season on a winning note after suffering her first defeat of this year to Jackson at the Brussels Diamond League meet last Friday.
The NACAC 100 metres champion, Jackson, clocked a time of 10.73 seconds, while Fraser-Pryce narrowly missed out on a victory in 10.74 seconds.
It was the first time Fraser-Pryce had competed since complaining of a tight hamstring that caused her to withdraw from the Lausanne Diamond League in August. The three-time Olympic champion, however, has expressed optimism about contesting the final of the event in Zurich.
“The good news is, you get to start a new week. Even better, you get to see another exciting race on Thursday,” she said.
“All roads lead to Zurich and I’m extremely grateful to be able to grace the track for this year’s Diamond League finale!” she added.
Meanwhile, Jackson will seek to defeat the 10-time world champion, Fraser-Pryce, in back-to-back races this season as well as to take victory in the women’s 200 metres. She became the fastest woman alive in the event after blazing to a world-leading, personal best, national and championship record time of 21.45 seconds at the 2022 Oregon World Championships.
The Jamaicans will grace the track in the 100 metres against their compatriot Natasha Morrison and the likes of the American sprint trio of Aleia Hobbs, Twanisha Terry and Sha’Carri Richardson; Marie Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast; Majinga Kambundji of Switzerland and Great Britain’s Daryll Neita.
Meanwhile, in the men’s equivalent of the event, the fastest Jamaican man this year, Yohan Blake, will face Trayvon Bromell of the United Sates; the Canadian pair of Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown; Reece Prescod of Great Britain; and Akani Simbine of South Africa to name a few.
The final of the women’s 100 metres is scheduled for 1:23pm and the men will face the starter at 1:49pm Jamaica time.
In the men’s 110 metres hurdles, Tokyo Games champion Hansle Parchment and the freshly minted Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, Rasheed Broadbell, will tackle 10 flights of hurdles against the reigning world champion, Grant Holloway of the United States; Oregon World Championship silver medallist, Trey Cunningham, also of the United States,among others. The final of the men’s 110 metres hurdles is slated for 12:52pm Jamaica time.
Other events to be contested by Jamaicans at the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich, Switzerland:
Wednesday, September 7:
Women’s Shot Put – 2019 Doha World Championship silver medallist, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, will be the only Jamaican scheduled to contest the final of the event on at 9:00am Jamaica time.
Thursday, September 8:
Women’s 100M Hurdles- Oregon World Championship silver medal winner Britany Anderson will line up in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at 12:25pm Jamaica time.
Women’s 400M- Jamaican national champion Candice McLeod and 2015 Beijing World Championship sprint relay gold medallist, Stephanie-Ann McPherson will compete at 12noon Jamaica time.
Women’s 800M- Multiple-time national champion Natoya Goule-Toppin will contest the event at 2:19pm Jamaica time.
Women’s Triple Jump- Commonwealth champion Shanieka Ricketts will compete in the event at 10am Jamaica time.