Thompson Herah tunes up with 200m win

July 14, 2021
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah wins the women’s 200 metres in 22.43 seconds during the Diamond League event at Gateshead, England yesterday.
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah wins the women’s 200 metres in 22.43 seconds during the Diamond League event at Gateshead, England yesterday.

Elaine Thompson Herah, winner of the women's sprint double at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, warmed up for the Tokyo Games with an easy win in the 200 metres at the Wanda Diamond League in Gateshead, London, yesterday.

Competing on English soil for the first time in two years, Thompson Herah clocked 22.43 seconds while holding off the late surge of Britain's Jodie Williams who was second in a season's best 22.60. Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria took third in 22.61. Natasha Morrison, the second Jamaican in the event, placed eighth in 23.16.

"It (winning) helps to build my confidence," Thompson Herah said after her victory. "It may not be my fastest time but I am still pleased," she added.

Jamaica earned two other wins at the Diamond League meet. Stephenie Ann McPherson won the women's 400 metres and Ronald Levy powered to victory in the men's 110 metres hurdles.

McPherson ran away from her rivals to win her event in 50.44 seconds, ahead of Jodie Williams of Great Britain who clocked a personal best 50.94 for second. Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands was third in 51.44.

A lot of attention was focused on the men's 110m hurdles where Levy was up against fellow Jamaican and 2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod. McLeod was the favourite but national champion Levy ran a brilliant race and was actually going away from his main rival at the end.

After a sluggish start Levy found his footing at hurdle three and was involved in a close battle with McLeod from there on to the final barrier before pulling away for a convincing win in 13.22 seconds. McLeod was second in 13.42 while Britain's Andrew Pozzi took third in 13.45. Rasheed Broadbell, the other Jamaican in the event, was fifth in 13.84.

Levy was pleased with his execution. "I had some complications at my previous meet in Hungary but I came out there to execute and win and I am happy," he said.

McLeod, who spoke of being heartbroken after failing to get into the Jamaica team for the Olympics, said he had not trained much since finishing eighth in the event at the Jamaica Trials. "It was a good race seeing as I haven't trained very hard since my Jamaican trials. I am a bit out of it but I am happy to finish healthy. Now I am just going to try and finish the season well and keep putting in the performance," he said.

Janieve Russell placed third in the women's 400 metres hurdles in 54.66 seconds. The event was won in 53.24 by the fast-rising Femke Bol of the Netherlands. American Shamier Little was second in 54.33.

Danielle Williams and Britany Anderson were not among the top three in the women's 100 metres hurdles. Williams ended fourth in 12.77 seconds while Anderson was fifth in 12.81. Britain's Cindy Sember won in 12.69 ahead of American Payton Chadwick (12.75) , with Nadine Visser of the Netherlands third in 12.77.

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