Closest To Flojo’s Record, Can Elaine-Thompson Herah’s Return Threaten America’s Century Old Glory At Prefontaine Classic?

Records are meant to be broken, yet few withstand the test of 30 years! The only one coming close to the legend, Florence Griffith-Joyner, is Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah, who fell short of just 0.05s at the Prefontaine Classic 2023. So, this year, can the fastest woman alive beat the fastest woman in history?

The world’s fastest women list continues to be led by the iconic Florence Griffith-Joyner, thanks to her jaw-dropping 10.49 at the 1988 Olympic Trials. On the other hand, the five-time Olympic gold medalist Elaine comes in a close second (10.54), and she has been making a lot of noise for years, claiming the late Griffith-Joyner’s record will not stay at the top of the food chain forever. “If it takes two years, five years, I will still try to break it.” While Elaine is among the few elite athletes in history to bag the coveted “double-double” in back-to-back Olympics, her attempts to edge past the American Glory have remained fruitless so far.

If we analyze, one reason Elaine can threaten FloJo’s record is her technique. She came closest to breaking the world record thanks to her technique, which closely resembles FloJo’s, whose historic win showcased a forward gaze, relaxed shoulders, minimal side-to-side motion, stable hips with maximum rotation, a strong knee drive, and an incredible stride. Elaine is probably the only person who could come closest to FloJo’s technique, and hence, she dons the title of ‘fastest woman alive.’

As the final stretch to the Olympics rages on, the track and field community is anticipating some breakneck action at French capital in August. However, before the rumble in Paris unfolds, this weekend’s Prefontaine Classic will be the sole focus of the world’s top sprinters. The prestigious event will offer runners the chance to boost their World Athletics ranking, and representing America, Richardson, and Jamaica, Elaine won’t be holding back as they aim to beat the best.

The women’s 100m event at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic saw Elaine come the closest to breaking Florence’s record, while the same race was probably the most humiliating for America’s prodigal child Sha’Carri. Finishing ninth in the race at 11.14, Richardson was silenced by the Jamaican runners, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson. However, the 2023 World Championships saw Richardson putting her competition on attention as she clinched the 100m gold, finishing the race in 10.65. Let’s compare both countries’ most promising representatives so far before the Prefontaine 2024.

Thompson-Herah remains the biggest hurdle on Richardson’s way to the top of the podium in Paris. The Jamaican has always been a steady competition to Sha’Carri’s dreams of being named along with the sport’s most famous figures, and it seems like the next chapter of their on-track feud is about to unfold.

A thrilling Sha’Carri Richardson vs. Elaine Thompson-Herah rivalry nearing its verdict?

Only days ago, when Elaine revealed plans to make her 2024 debut at next month’s Grenada Invitational, many of Sha’Carri’s fans probably thought the latter would have a chance at the Prefontaine Classic to test the waters before the clash. However, as the entry list of the Saturday event shows, the American won’t be getting the option to linger with the imminent face-off.

With that, both runners are expected to go all-in with the opportunity to showcase their speed with the 2024 Olympics looming overhead. While the Prefontaine Classic from three years ago is something that Richardson would want to forget, Olympic gold medalist and retired sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown claimed that Richardson’s intense rivalry with the Jamaican runners should be something that she should use to up her game.

On the other hand, since that tainted night, Sha’Carri has come a long way and has been performing significantly well in recent months. The reigning world champion still pulled out of several meets this year, including the Miramar Invitational, but her performances are making Richardson’s opponents take notice. While many fans believe that Shelly-Ann will be doing everything in her power to end her Olympics career with a bang, Richardson, the fifth name on World Athletics’ list, cannot be discounted at any cost.

As this year’s Prefontaine Classic waits for the kick-off, who is your pick for the women’s 100m event? Tell us more in the comment section below!