Jamaica’s Thompson stars at international meet
K I NGS T ON, J ama ic a : Hometown hero Elaine Thompson put on an impressive show against a strong field and Canada’s Andre De Grasse won his first race on Jamaican soil at an international track meet in Kingston on Saturday.
Thompson clocked 22.09 seconds in the women’s 200 metres to equal the 2017 world leading time, while Rio Games silver medallist De Grasse dominated the final 50 metres to take the men’s 200m in 20.14 during the 14th Jamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium.
But on a night when veteran Yohan Blake also stormed to a 9.93 seconds in the men’s 100m, Thompson shone the brightest.
After clocking a world-leading 10.78 seconds in Shanghai, China a week earlier, Thompson got off to a good start and was catching opponents by the time they got to the curve. She was in front by the time they got to the straight-away and just kept going away to win easily.
She equal led the time run by American Tori Bowie in California in mid-April. Jamaican compatriot Shericka Jackson, a 400m specialist, was second in the 22.61 seconds and American Shalonda Solomon third in 22.64 seconds.
Thompson admitted to being “a little tired” because of her busy schedule but said she executed her race.
“The coach told me to come off the curve as fast as I can and then control the race,” she said. “It’s been a hectic season. I am just getting back from Shanghai and have run another fast time but I have to stay focussed and put in the work.”
De Grasse, 22, made his first race on Jamaican soil a winning one. The field managed to stay within reach until the Canuck turbocharged his way past American LaShawn Merritt, who finished in second place in 20.28 seconds. Great Britain’s Jamaican-based sprinter Zarnel Hughes was third in 20.29 seconds. — AFP