Thompson-Herah, Sha’Carri Richardson and Dina Asher-Smith to clash at Prefontaine Classic Saturday
KINGSTON, Jamaica – It will be Jamaica against the United States and Great Britain on Saturday when some of the big guns in women’s sprinting face off against each other at the Prefontaine Classic.
If she runs, it will be the first time the United States’ Sha’Carri Richardson will line up against any Jamaican since she came last at the Prefontaine Classic last August in a race that was won by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 10.54s, the second fastest time in history.
Like she did in winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Thompson-Herah led a Jamaican clean sweep in that race, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson finishing second and third respectively.
This time around Fraser-Pryce, who ran world-leading 10.67 in Kenya earlier this month, will be missing but Thompson-Herah and Jackson will be joined by their countrywoman, fellow 4x100m Olympic gold medallist, Brianna Williams.
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith is also down to compete in what will be a stacked field.
The controversial Richardson did not compete at the Olympics after she tested positive for cannabis at the US Trials and was banned for three months. She will be looking to redeem herself after her last Prefontaine flop.
Although she pulled out of the 100m at the Birmingham Diamond League on the weekend, a race won by Asher-Smith, Thompson-Herah did compete in both the 100 and 200 metres at the JAAA/SDF Jubilee Series in Kingston on the same day. She won the 100m in 10.94 and the 200m in 22.55 despite citing injury concerns for not travelling to Birmingham, England.
The controversial Richardson has pulled out of at least two meets this season but made her season debut on Saturday at the Duval Challenge in Jacksonville, Florida. She ran 11.37 seconds in Heat 5 of the 100m to finish fourth in the official race.