Elaine Thompson-Herah eyes another photo finish in Lausanne
Olympics Gold Medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah is currently on fire and appears ready to continue in that course.
She proceeds to yet another showdown on Thursday at the star-studded Wanda Diamond League women’s 100m race in Lausanne. Fresh from her double Olympic triumph, the Jamaican stunned the world with the second-fastest time ever recorded in Eugene last weekend. The jaw-dropping 10.54 cemented her already firm status as favourite to win the 100m Diamond Trophy this year. A two-time Diamond League champion, Thompson-Herah has not been crowned Diamond League champion since 2017, and will be itching to add a third title to her Olympic gongs this summer. In Lausanne, she will take on compatriots and fellow Tokyo medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson. Aside from this others that are in a killer in their areas of disciplice include;
Crouser in form
Ryan Crouser is a two-time Olympic champion and a World Athletics Championship silver medallist, but he is still yet to get his hands on the Diamond Trophy. The US shot-putter is hitting form at just the right time if he is to be be crowned Wanda Diamond League champion for the first time this year. After his triumph in Tokyo, the 28-year-old returned to the Diamond League circuit with a bang in Eugene, breaking the Diamond League record twice in his first four throws before taking a comfortable win in the Final 3. His sixth Diamond League victory ever and his first this year, Crouser will be hoping to add to his tally and lock down his place in the final when he takes on Joe Kovacs, Tom Walsh and Darlan Romani for the second time in a week on Thursday.
Rojas and Ricketts resume rivalry
One of the undisputed stars of Tokyo with her world record in the women’s triple jump, Yulimar Rojas will return to the Diamond League in Lausanne and resume her fascinating rivalry with Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts. Though Rojas remains favourite to win the title, Ricketts has two wins to the Venezuelans one so far this season, and also beat Rojas in a surprise win in the last Diamond League Final back in 2019. Still the reigning Diamond League champion on the back of that win, the Jamaican will be desperate to defend her title after missing out on the medals in Japan.
Warholm in the 400m flat
Another Olympic world record breaker, Karsten Warholm, will also return to the circuit on Thursday, though in a slightly capacity than usual. Warholm broke the 400m hurdles world record at the Oslo Diamond League earlier this season, before breaking it again in Tokyo, and he has already nailed down his place in the hurdles final, where he hopes to defend his 2019 title. In Lausanne, the Norwegian will test himself in the 400m flat, taking on the likes of Isaac Makwala and Vernon Norwood in a non-Diamond League race.
High jump heavyweights
The women’s high jump has been more open than ever this year, with a victory each for Poland’s Kamila Licwinko and Ukrainians Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Iryna Geraschcheko in the three meetings so far. Reigning Diamond League champion and Olympic gold medallist Mariya Lasitskene is yet to get a win on the circuit in 2021, and will want to put the record straight in Lausanne. As well as Licwinko ad Geraschchenko, she also faces fellow Tokyo medallists Mahuchikh and Nicola McDermott.