byStuart WeirIn the women’s 100m, @fastelaine took gold in 10.61, breaking 33 yr OR of late Florence Griffith Joyner. July 31, 2021, photos by @stuartweir, @britathletics, @euroathletics
, @tokyo2020, @usatf, @coachathletics
, @caltrackrn, @larryeder, #tokyodiary2021, #runningnetwork pic.twitter.com/mfcyjXRTfr— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) July 31, 2021
This is Stuart Weir’s view of the Women’s 100 meters, which he saw in person last night in an empty stadium. Stuart is covering the the Olympics for @runblogrun from the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and Media center.
Women’s 100m
Tonight those of us privileged to be in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo witnessed one of the great 100m races of all time. One can write about it from many different perspectives but to sum it up in one sentence: Elaine Thompson-Herah retained her Olympic 100m title, setting a new Olympic record.
There are numerous backstories like a Jamaican 1-2-3, as there was into 2008. There is a phenomenal achievement for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to win 100m medals at four consecutive Olympic Games. Two Swiss athletes running under 11 seconds. There was the absence of Dina Asher-Smith, Sha’Carrie Richardson, and Blessing Okagbare – for different reasons. But would anyone on the planet have run 10.60 to beat Elaine Thompson – I doubt it.
Arguably this is the first year that Elaine Thompson has been fully fit since Rio. She has gained gold medals in her first two Olympics – just as Shelly-Ann did. Seven years from now might we be talking about four Olympic medals for Thomson as well as Fraser-Pryce?
Jamaica sweeps 100m! @fastelaine takes gold in 10.61, OR, NR! @realshellyannfp, 10.74, Shericka Jackson, 10.76, Marie Josee Ta Lou, 10.91! July 31, 2021, photos @runblogrun@stuartweir, @britathletics, @euroathletics
, @tokyo2020, @usatf, @coachathletics
, @caltrackrn, pic.twitter.com/ssBr5YVby4— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) July 31, 2021
Fraser-Pryce made her customary excellent start but Thompson’s drive took her past her rival who could not respond effectively. A high-quality race with six athletes running under 11 seconds. The top four was as follows:
1 Elaine Thompson-Herah 10.61 PR/OR
2 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 10.74
3 Shericka Jackson 10.76 PR
4 Marie Josee Ta Lou 10.91
Thompson-Herah said afterward: “I didn’t see the time I just knew I had won. I could have gone faster if I wasn’t pointing and celebrating early. But that shows there is more in store so hopefully one day I can unleash that time.”
Fraser-Pryce was characteristically gracious in defeat: “Of course I am disappointed. The aim of an athlete lining up is always to win but that didn’t happen tonight. But I am still very grateful to make the final and to be able to stand on the podium at my fourth Olympic Games. Putting it in perspective, I am really grateful for the opportunity that I had tonight.
“I am also really excited that female sprinting is going to another level, you know, and that is truly remarkable, it speaks to the depth that we have in terms of females.”
