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The Jamaican won gold in both the 100m and 200m at the Tokyo
Games in the last month, but made an even bigger statement at
the weekend at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene where she ran
the second-fastest 100m of all time in a blistering 10.54
seconds.
It edged her closer to Florence Griffith Joyner’s
long-deemed-untouchable 10.49 world record set at the 1988 U.S.
Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, which could come under further
threat when the Diamond League circuit continues in Lausanne on
Thursday.
“A few years ago I was asked whether I could break that record
and I said it was not possible,” Thompson-Herah told a news
conference on Wednesday.
“But for me to run a 10.54 means it is within reach, therefore
it means anything is possible.”
Thompson-Herah will reprise her rivalry with fellow Jamaican
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, whom she beat into second place in
Tokyo and in Oregon on Saturday.
“Elaine is much, much closer than I am,” laughed Fraser-Pryce
when asked about the record.
“It’s good to be able to challenge a record that women thought
for a long time was impossible to break and it speaks to the
evolution of sprinting,” she added.
“To be able to be part of that conversation, or to have that
conversation, is truly remarkable. I know Lausanne is a very
good track, I ran 10.7 here in 2019 having just climbed off the
plane.”
The 34-year-old Fraser-Pryce warned her younger rival that
Thursday’s race was no foregone conclusion, despite Thompson-Herah’s
form.
“I definitely have not run my best race as yet and I’m still
working on different phases of the races and hopefully I’ll be
able to put that together.
“I’ve always said every time you step out on to the track you
want to win, that’s the aim when you get out there.
“To have women you know will definitely be setting a fast time
adds to the excitement, not only for the crowd but also for you
as an athlete too because it raises your game,” she added.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Clare Fallon)
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