Elaine Thompson-Herah triumphs in 100m at Prefontaine Classic; Richardson finishes 9th
American Sha'Carri Richardson was making a much-anticipated return, but was slow out of the blocks and never recovered. Allyson Felix competed in the 200m.
Athletics
Elaine Thompson-Herah left no doubt about it - she's the fastest woman in the world right now.
The two-time Olympic champion in the 100m - fresh off gold at Tokyo 2020 in both the 100m and 200m - blew away the field in a highly-anticipated women's 100m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene - the first post-Games Diamond League event - sprinting to victory with a 10.54 win.
Thompson-Herah ran a 10.61 to win in Tokyo.
Jamaica would sweep the podium - just like it did in Tokyo: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was second at 10.73 and Shericka Jackson third with a 10.76.
American Sha'Carri Richardson, who missed the Olympics after a doping ban for marijuana use, had a slow start out of the blocks and could never recover. She finished ninth among the nine runners.
“Coming out today… back to the sport, I wanted to come and perform," Richardson told NBC TV. "There’s a lot I’ve been dealing with. I’m not done. Count me out if you want to. Can’t no one take that from me - but you’re not done seeing me yet - period.”
Later in the day, it was all-time American medal leader in athletics at the Olympics, Allyson Felix, who continued her legacy in the sport in the 200m. In a field that also featured Gabby Thomas and Team GB's Dina-Asher Smith, it was Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji who captured the race.
Felix finished eighth. Richardson had been scheduled to compete in the 200m, as well, but scratched from the event.
Lyles, Mu score victories on busy day
Americans Noah Lyles (200m) and Athing Mu (800m) won their respective events, Lyles victorious in 19.52 - a time that would have triumphed in Tokyo, where he won the bronze medal.
"What happened in Tokyo happened; this isn’t Tokyo. I wanted to step out here and do my best," Lyles said on NBC. He added, in regard to the crowd in attendance: "To be honest, I walked out here on the track and said, ‘Shoot, these are my people!’"
Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek was second, while Lyles' brother Josephus captured third.
The women's 800m was not a part of the Diamond League programme, but was held as part of the overall meet.
In the men's 100m, Canada's Andre De Grasse - the Olympic 200m champ - beat Americans Trayvon Bromell (4th), Fred Kerley (2nd) and Ronnie Baker (3rd) to triumph with a 9.74, while Olympic champion triple jumper Pedro Pichardo of Portugal also claimed victory in the men's triple jump.
Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. triumphed in the 400m hurdles (52.77), while two-time Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon of Kenya won the women's 1500m (3:53.23) and Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway won the men's mile (3:47.24).
Ryan Crouser, the world record holder and two-time Olympic champion in shot put, confirmed his world's-best status, as well, capturing the shot put event with a throw of 22.41m.
In the men's 800m, Canada's Marco Arop won with a 1:44.51, while Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir of Kenya was third.
Another Kenyan, Norah Jeruto set a meet record in the women's 3000m steeplechase with a 8:53.65, while American Courtney Frerichs became the first American woman to clock a sub-nine-minute time in the race (8:57.77).
In the men's two mile, Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, was triumphant (8:09.55).