A Spectacular Night of Sprinting
The Lausanne Diamond League recently hosted one of the most thrilling women’s 100 meters races, with top athletes from across the globe battling for glory. Among the star-studded line-up were some of the best sprinters, including Alexandra Burkhart from Germany, the Ivorian Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Jamaican trio Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price, Jericho Jackson, and Elaine Thompson, Mujinga Kambunji from Switzerland, and Britain’s Daryl Neita.
Women’s 100m Results Wind: 0.0
| POS | NAME | COUNTRY | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOBBS Aleia | USA | 10.87 |
| 2 | JACKSON Shericka | JAM | 10.88 |
| 3 | TA LOU Marie-Josée | CIV | 10.89 |
| 4 | DAVIS Tamari | USA | 10.94 |
| 6 | KAMBUNDJI Mujinga | SUI | 11.15 |
| 5 | TERRY Twanisha | USA | 11.13 |
| 7 | SEEDO N’Ketia | NED | 11.41 |
| DQ | THOMPSON-HERAH Elaine | JAM | TR 16.8False Start |
Burkhart, a semi-finalist at the Tokyo Olympics, demonstrated remarkable form, having come close to her personal best in the heats and semi-finals at Tokyo. Her personal best of 11.01, set in early July, was indeed promising.
Marie-Josée Ta Lou from Ivory Coast, although a force to reckon with, was seeking redemption after finishing fourth in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 meters in Tokyo. Ta Lou, who won the 100m at the Lausanne Diamond League back in 2018, looked to break her streak of near misses in major championships.
The Jamaican powerhouse trio – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price, Jericho Jackson, and Elaine Thompson – brought an aura of invincibility to the race. Fraser-Price, at the age of 34, proved that age is just a number, taking second in the 100 meters and fourth in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics. Her compatriot Jericho Jackson, a bronze medalist in Tokyo, also came prepared to secure another podium finish. Meanwhile, Elaine Thompson, the reigning Olympic champion from both Rio and Tokyo, sought to defend her dominance in the 100 meters.
Switzerland’s Kambunji, a semi-finalist in Tokyo in both the 100 and 200 meters, and Britain’s Neita, who ran a personal best of 10.96 in the Olympic heats, also made a strong showing.
The race itself was a spectacle. From the get-go, Fraser-Price took the lead, with Thompson close on her heels. However, it was Fraser-Price who crossed the finish line first, securing a personal best and meeting record of 10.60, beating Marion Jones’ 23-year-old record of 10.72 set in 1998. Thompson finished a close second with 10.64, arguably the fastest second-place finish ever in this event.
This night of thrilling racing ended with Jamaica making a clean sweep, just as they did in Tokyo, albeit in a slightly different order. The result showcased not only the depth of talent in Jamaican sprinting but also the intense rivalry between Fraser-Price and Thompson.
Following the race, Fraser-Price expressed her delight at running a personal best and the meeting record. She praised her competitors, highlighting the high level of female sprinting and the commitment of the athletes. She also expressed her gratitude towards the Swiss crowd, appreciating their energy and enthusiasm after a challenging year marked by the pandemic.
The Lausanne Diamond League’s women’s 100 meters proved to be a high-octane event, exemplifying the thrilling competition, sporting prowess, and records that make athletics a spectacle to behold. It was a testament to the heights that female sprinting has reached, offering promise of more exciting races and record-breaking performances to come.
