byStuart Weir
The Women’s 100 meters was one of the finest Doha Diamond League meeting fields. It was one of the finest 100-meter fields that this writer has ever seen.
Sha’Carri Richardson won this race and defeated Sherika Jackson, Dina Asher-Smith, and Abby Steiner, among others. This is how Stuart Weir, who was in Doha DL with yours truly, saw the race!
Women’s 100
Eight sub 11 seconds women lined up in the women’s 100m in the Doha Diamond League. They had to get to the startline earlier to give stadium announcer Andy Kay time to read out their accomplishments. OK, it was an early-season race and a season opener for two of the girls. All ten are sub-11 athletes, but only two this season.
The night of breaking records! #DiamondLeague #Doha https://t.co/XR0govdnet
— Doha Diamond League (@dldoha) May 5, 2023
Sha’Carri Richardson put down a huge marker, winning in 10.76, a meeting record and world leader. Shericka Jackson, who seems to be able to switch between 100/200/400 at will and still be world-class, was second in 10.85. Dina Asher-Smith was third in 10.98. Richardson’s comments in the official press flash quotes were a little enigmatic: “I’m so blessed and thankful, I feel at peace. All I do is the best I do, and I’m excited to do it. Like I said it before, I had to be kicked out from another 100m race, so I had to do my best no matter what”. She finished with a blessing for the staff: “Peace, love, and life.”
Dina Asher-Smith was typically accepting of her performance but still striving for more. “The whole point about my season is to race against the best, and I did that tonight. I am really happy with my race, third place is a good start, and the time is decent. But I think I’m in a better place than that, and I think there’s better to come. It’s a good opener and on to the next one”
With Shelly-Ann and Elaine to come, we are getting to the point where you will need to be a 10.8 sprinter to get into the bigger DLs. And that can only be a good thing for the sport.
