Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico began her defence of the Olympic 100-metre hurdles championship by setting the quickest time in the heats.
American Masai Russell and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan are two of the competitors competing for her spot. Also in the fray is home favourite Cyrena Samba-Mayela, one of France’s best hopes for an individual track gold medal.
However, Camacho-Quinn proved a formidable opponent and finished in 12.42 seconds. The athlete made sure that she would not allow anyone to take her place.
Highlights of the heats
Nigerian athlete Tobi Amusan was in top form when she arrived at the Stade de France after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed World Athletics and the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeals and found her not guilty of a doping rule violation. In her heat, she took the lead around the halfway point and won with ease, finishing with a record 12.49, ahead of American Alaysha Johnson with 12.61.
The Paris crowd erupted in cheers for Cyrena Samba-Mayela, who finished third with a record of 12.56 in another heat. Athlete Masai Russell, who owns the fastest time of the year, tied for first with Nadine Visser of the Netherlands with 12.53.
Ireland’s Sarah Lavin finished second with 12.73 in her heat, while Jamaican Danielle Williams who defeated Camacho-Quinn for the global gold in Budapest the previous year, breezed out of her lane with 12.59.
In the last heat of the day, Jamaican Ackera Nugent crossed the finish line first with a record of 12.65, ahead of Bahamian Devynne Charlton in second place with 12.71.
Before even hitting her prime, Masai Russell, who is only 24 years old, has become a formidable force in the 100-metre hurdles and has won an Olympic gold medal.
Her results were erratic, frequently placing her in third or fourth place at national championships, even though her name was well-known at the NCAA. Russell, however, dared to enter the Olympic trials, and in a breathtaking twist of fate, she triumphed, quickly becoming a hero to the country.
Russell talked candidly about her career’s quick ascent on “The Pivot Podcast,” expressing her frustration at not winning the NCAA title while winning the SEC indoor championships.
She missed out on winning the SEC outdoor title at 24, but she did set a collegiate record. At the US Olympic trials, where she ran a phenomenal 12.25 seconds to guarantee a spot in the Olympics and rank fifth among women in the 100-metre hurdles.
In Athlos, NYC, Masai Russell captivates
Russell posted on her X account to celebrate her outstanding accomplishment, saying, “12.44 in a ‘catch-up’ race to cap off an unforgettable season…” You may consider me both an expert and a novice. She added to her happy season with a $10,000 prize money in addition to her victory. The Olympic gold medallist started the day well, placing second in the 60-metre hurdles in a time of 7.89 seconds.
Track and field fans were enthralled with Alexis Ohanian’s all-female tournament, Athlos, which included exceptional talent, including Olympic champion Masai Russell. Despite being the favourite, Russell was beaten by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who won in an astounding time of 12.36 seconds.
Russell, who called the competition her “catch-up” race, finished in 12.44 seconds to take home the bronze. Russell’s consistent performance will definitely bolster her confidence going forward, even though it fell short of breaking the world record with this effort.
Danielle Williams’ back-to-back win in Budapest and Zurich
Last week, on Aug 24, at the World Athletics Championships, Danielle Williams, 24, made her country and teammates proud when she clinched first place at the Women’s 100-meter hurdle event. It was the first time since 2015 that she was able to climb atop the podium with a gold medal around her neck, surprising the spectators with her unexpected win.
It was a tight competition as the Jamaican sprint hurdler boldly went head to head with Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. But with her tenacity and skills, Williams managed to beat Quinn by a mere 0.01 second and emerge as the victor. Williams had a record of 12.43 seconds, while Quinn had 12.44 seconds.
Following this momentous event, Williams dived into another 100 m hurdle competition on Aug 31 at the Zurich Diamond League in 2023. Determined to continue her winning streak, Williams displayed exemplary character and skills as she sought to outdo her fierce opponents in the event.
All of the competitors were off to a good start, but shortly after the second hurdle, the 24-year old managed to pull ahead of her rivals. And, as she continued to do so, she won the event, putting the spectators’ doubts about her capabilities to rest. Williams clocked out at 12.54 seconds, edging out Alaysha Johnson with 12.58 seconds and Kendra Harrison with 12.59 seconds. Another competitor from Jamaica, Megan Tapper, finished in fifth place with a time of 12.64 seconds.
In an interview, Danielle Williams expressed her delight at coming out as the champion in Zurich. She also said that the celebration of her wins could wait until after the final competition in Eugene.
“It is a wonderful feeling coming out here as a World Champion. I mean, I have to give all the thanks for that. The race was a bit slower than I expected, but you know, I came out injury free, and with a win, so I can’t complain,” she said.
“I haven’t had much time to celebrate my big win in Budapest, it will probably be the day after I finish my season. I am now onto my next meet, and I will try to celebrate after Eugene.”
Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce blow through the heats on way to epic encounter
The heats are on to find out the world’s fastest woman. And the preliminary findings show the current favourite American Sha’Carrie Richardson has not blown off the competition yet. Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 100-metre silver medal winner in Tokyo three years ago, is still in the race.
The 100-metre in Tokyo ended in an all-Jamaican podium finish with Elaine Thompson-Herah winning gold and Shericka Jackson clinching bronze. However, Thompson-Herah is not competing in Paris because of an Achilles tendon injury while Jackson pulled out of the 100-metre to focus on the 200-metre, her pet event, after being injured in a race in Hungary in July.
Queen in a da deck!!!!! The incomparable Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/pUpp0HdLk3
Fraser-Pryce is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time. She boasts five world titles and won the 100-metre Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
However, now 37 years old, can she hold off a young gun like Richardson?
The veteran, dubbed “Mommy Rocket”, isn’t done as yet.
This is her Olympic swan song, she says, and she aims to give of her best.
“It’s the final Olympic Games; let me repeat that,” Fraser-Pryce told journalists in Paris. “ I’m really looking forward to the experience, stepping on the track and always, once I get on the line, I’m giving 100 percent at all times and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2024
Sha’Carri Richardson
Richardson, 24, is the reigning world champion and the fastest woman this year, having posted a 10.71 in June.
She is taking part in her first Olympics, and looking forward to the competition.
“To be at the Olympics is a phenomenal feeling,” Richardson said. “I’m super excited and eager to compete on the Olympic stage.”
She couldn’t take part in Tokyo as she was suspended after testing positive for marijuana. Raised by her grandmother and an aunt, she said she took the drug to cope with the news that her biological mother had died.
Richardson and Fraser-Pryce both qualified for the semi-finals.
Richardson ran 10.94 to win the first heat on Friday (August 2).
However, Fraser-Pryce set a better time, clocking 10.92 to finish second behind Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith of Ivory Coast in the eighth and final heat.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of Ivory Coast had the fastest time on Friday with 10.87, as she held off Fraser-Pryce down the home stretch in a thrilling final heat. She is hungry for a spot on the podium after fourth-place finishes in the last two Games.
Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred, Canada’s Audrey Leduc, Poland’s Ewa Swoboda, the United States’ Twanisha Terry, Britain’s Daryll Neita and Dina Asher-Smith, Jamaica’s Tia Clayton and Shashalee Forbes and Gambia’s Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye are among the others who advanced to the semi-finals.
List of fastest athletes in every running event in 2024 before Paris Olympics: Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles…
There are just five days left before the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and anticipation for this unique occasion is growing. There will be about ten thousand competitors from all over the world.
Notable athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, Kishane Thompson, and Noah Lyles will delight the crowd with their record-breaking sprinting achievements. These incredible athletes provide the Games with an advantage, especially in the 100, 200, and 100-metre hurdles, 400, 1500, 800, 5000, and 10,000-meter races.
The fastest times for various sprinting events as recorded shortly before the Olympics in Paris
100m
At the Jamaican Olympic trials finals, Kishane Thompson of Jamaica surprised everyone by winning the 100 metres in a world-record time of 9.77 seconds. Concurrently, Sha’Carri Richardson, the American world champion, guaranteed her place in the Paris Olympics with a season-best time of 10.71 seconds during the US Olympic trials in June.
2. 200m
Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion and bronze medallist from the Tokyo Olympics, won the 200-metre final at the US Olympic trials, setting a new world record of 19.53 seconds.
His outstanding performance earned him a spot in the Paris Olympics, which is just another incredible accomplishment to add to his already impressive career.
3. 100m hurdles
At the US Olympic trials in June, American athletes Masai Russell and Grant Holloway won their 100-metre hurdles finals in season-best performances of 12.25 and 12.86 seconds, respectively, to guarantee their spot in the Paris Olympics.
4. 400m
On Saturday, July 21, at the London Diamond League, season bests in the 400 metres for both men and women were set. Breaking Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s world lead time, Jamaican Nickisha Pryce astonished the world by winning the event with a new season best and world lead finish of 48.57.
5. 400m hurdles
The 400-metre hurdles finalist from the United States, Rai Benjamin, who won silver at the Olympics in Tokyo, set a new meet record and recorded a season-best time of 46.46 seconds at the US Olympic Trials.
Sha’Carri Richardson streaked to silver in late burst, but slow start cost her Olympic gold
History repeated itself in the 100-metre women’s final at the Paris Olympics on Saturday (August 3). The 100-metre world champion Sha’carri Richardson of the United States was conclusively beaten by Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia in a virtual replay of the semi-final on Friday. The 24-year-old American idol was slower off the starting blocks on both occasions and could not catch up with the 23-year-old rising star from the Caribbean.
The 100-metre sprint is fast and unforgiving. The race is over in seconds with no time to recover after a slow start.
Rchardson’s slow reaction time
Richardson was weighed down by her reaction time. Her reaction time of 0.221 seconds was the slowest of the finalists and nearly twice Alfred’s 0.144.
Richardson, however, is an exceptional athlete who, even after slow starts, can accelerate to perform wonders. She ran a phenomenal 10.88 in the 100 metres at the US Olympic trials — despite stumbling out of the gate.
In the Paris 100-metre final, she ran even faster, clocking a time of 10.87 seconds. She recovered magnificently from her slow start to leave the rest of the field behind, but she could not overtake Alfred. Alfred, the world 60-metre indoor champion, started in a flash and led all the way, winning the race in 10.72 seconds.
Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred is the new Women’s 100meters Olympics champion in 10.72s.
She becomes St Lucia’s first ever Olympic Champion.
USA’s Sha’carri Richardson comes in 2nd place in the time of 10.87s, while her compatriot Melissa Jefferson picked up the Bronze in 10.92s. pic.twitter.com/Kz1hfkGoPa
Alfred’s 10.72-second winning run was only a fraction of a second off Richardson’s 10.71 at the US Olympic trials, the fastest 100-metre time for a woman this year.
Melissa Jefferson of the United States won the bronze with a time of 10.92 seconds.
100-metre world record
Richardson became the 100-metre world champion in Budapest, Hungary, in 2023, winning the race in 10.65 seconds, coming closest to the world record of 10.49 seconds set by the late Florence Griffith Joyner of the United States in 1988.
Consequently, Richardson was the favourite to win the 100 metres in the Paris Olympics, too.
However, Alfred won the race in a replay of the semi-final, where also Richardson started slowly and Alfred finished .05 seconds ahead of her—a margin Alfred would triple in the final.
Apart from Richardson’s slow start, Alfred was also favoured by the running conditions
The race held in pouring rain on a sloppy track didn’t bother her, she said. Her coach, Edrick Floreal, who recruited her to the University of Texas in 2019, makes his runners practise in similar conditions.
Alfred is the first to win an Olympic medal from her island nation, Saint Lucia. “I feel honoured to be an ambassador for my country,” she said. “Not many people know about St. Lucia. Sometimes people ask me where it is.
However, she is trained in the United States just like her rival, Richardson.
Richardson missed the Tokyo Olympics having been suspended at the time for taking a banned substance, marijuana. Raised by her grandmother and aunt, she said she took the drug to cope with the death of her biological mother.
Though she missed the Olympic gold in Paris, the American media is already speculating about her chances of claiming the elusive medal at the 2028 Games, when she will be 28 years old.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican sprinter who suddenly dropped out of the 100 metres in Paris, is still competing in the Olympics at the age of 37.
