OLYMPIC SPRINT QUEENS SET FOR 100M SHOWDOWN PREFONTAINE CLASSIC

OLYMPIC

By: Gyang Dakwo

The Paris Olympic women’s 100m rematch is on the cards, as gold medallist Julien Alfred, silver medallist Sha’Carri Richardson, and bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden are all confirmed to race at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League on July 5.

This will be the first time the sprinters meet since their dramatic showdown in Paris, where Alfred stormed to gold in a personal best of 10.72 seconds, followed by Richardson and Jefferson-Wooden. With the World Championships in Tokyo looming, the race at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, offers a golden opportunity for bragging rights and a major boost in confidence.

Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia’s sprint queen and reigning Olympic champion, is in flying form. She opened her 100m season with an easy 10.87 seconds in Oslo, then backed it up four days later by clocking 10.75 to break a 31-year-old meet record in Stockholm. That time is the second fastest in the world this year, just 0.03 seconds off her Olympic-winning mark.

Sha’Carri Richardson, the American sprinter who claimed silver in Paris and is the reigning world 100m champion, will be hoping to turn her season around in Eugene. She opened her year at the Seiko Grand Prix in April, finishing fourth, and has yet to break 11 seconds this season. Despite that, Richardson remains a fierce competitor on the big stage. A strong performance at Hayward Field could signal she is back in top form and ready to defend her world title in Tokyo.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, also an American and the Olympic bronze medallist, has been the most consistent of the three this year. She currently owns the world-leading time of 10.73 seconds and remains unbeaten in the 100m. The American speedster has dominated the Grand Slam Track League and proved her versatility by beating Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas with a personal best of 21.99 seconds in Philadelphia.

Jefferson-Wooden, who trains alongside Richardson, will be aiming to continue her winning streak and prove that her early-season dominance is no fluke.

With Alfred at her peak, Richardson eager to reassert her dominance, and Jefferson-Wooden rising fast, the women’s 100m at the Prefontaine Classic is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the Diamond League season. If all three make it to the start line, fans can expect a fast, fiery, and unforgettable rematch.