2022 ODYSSEY TO OREGON
WILL OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS ELAINE & HANSLE WIN IN EUGENE? A t last year’s Tokyo Olympic Games, Elaine Thompson‐ Herah and hurdler Hansle Parchment covered themselves in glory. Thompson‐Herah sprinted to the first repeat 100/200 double by a woman in Olympic history and Parchment managed a huge upset in the 110‐metre hurdles. Now, as Eugene and the World Championships beckon, they face a new challenge. Intent on winning her first individual World Championships gold medal, Thompson‐Herah has looked good in the 100, with routine trips under the 11 second barrier and a sparkling time of 10.79 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic on May 28 on the same Eugene track that will host the Worlds. Her 2021 trip there was glorious. Three weeks after her brilliant Tokyo triumph, she ran a perfect race to lead the Olympic silver and bronze medallists Shelly‐ Ann Fraser‐Pryce and Shericka Jackson across the line in 10.54 seconds. This performance was just 0.05 short of the 1988 world record of 10.49 seconds set by Florence Griffith‐Joyner. During this year’s visit to Eugene, she clearly established medals as her priority for this
Double-double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah wants World gold in her collection.
year. “Last year was spectacular and I would love to repeat that this season but I am in no rush, no rush for the world record or anything like that. The main aim right now is to get a taste of that World Championships gold which I don’t have; I only have a silver from six years ago.” That solitary silver, representing a loss on the line to Holland’s
Dafne Schippers over 200 metres, was followed by more disappointment. After impressive runs in the 2017 100 heats and semis, she was ravaged by a stomach virus and spent her time before the final vomiting. Her ongoing Achilles tendon problem flared up during the 2019 World Championships. As a result, she didn’t reached the podium for the 100 metres and was unable to take her place in the 200 semi‐finals. In 2021, her Achilles pain subsided and she produced an Olympic record of 10.61 seconds to the 100 and the second fastest time ever at 200, 21.53 seconds to repeat her 2016 double. If her new coach, husband Deron Herah, can guide her to that kind of form, she will be too good for her rivals in Eugene. Leading the challenge are her compatriots Shelly‐Ann Fraser‐ Pryce, Olympic bronze medallist Shericka Jackson and 2019 World runner‐up Dina Asher‐ Smith of Great Britain. The
Olympic champion Hansle Parchment knows that a sub-13.00 effort won’t guarantee a medal in Eugene.
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