Tension Erupts on American Soil as Sha’Carri Richardson’s Jamaican Rival Elaine Thompson-Herah Calls Out Referee Post 100M Final at Diamond League 2023

The last meet of the track and field season ended with some shocking results. The reigning 100-meter world champion, Sha’Carri Richardson, faced a major setback in the ongoing Prefontaine Classic 2023. The rising American talent faced defeat for the first time in her 2023 Diamond League season, failing to secure a top-three finish against Shericka Jackson and others.

Regardless, 5x Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah had high hopes for the Diamond League 2023 finals. While she could not claim victory, she set a new season’s best in the race, finishing third at the 100m Women’s. Despite her personal win, Herah was quite irked by the referee and expressed her disappointment publicly on social media.

Elaine Thompson-Herah is not happy

Thompson-Herah recently took to her Instagram story and wrote, “You Mr. Starter u get weh next time.” Evidently, she was not convinced by the referee’s act, as the runners were held at the start line for too long. It was also reported that the Olympian had one of the slowest reaction times, along with compatriot Shericka Jackson.

This could have affected her third-place finish in the race. Hence, her dispute with the referee. However, she managed to grab the season’s best time with 10.79 seconds. The story also sparked discussions within the community, questioning the referee’s stunt.

The 31-year-old athlete’s reaction time was recorded as the third slowest, timed at 0.159 seconds. Ironically, the winner, Shericka Jackson had the slowest reaction time, with 0.190, while Ta Lou and Richardson had reaction times of 0.167 and 0.146, respectively. The race kickstarted with great vigor, as all of the runners paced up against each other.

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Remarkably, the current 200-meter world champion found her way to the top, leaving behind her on-field American rival, Richardson, running to her immediate left. However, it was Elaine Thompson-Herah who was the most anticipated athlete to win the finals. Nonetheless, she clocked the best time of her current season.

The positives for the Jamaican legend

The 31-year-old runner Herah, who holds the record for the second fastest woman in the world and the fastest woman alive, had a forgettable 2023 season due to injuries and other health-related issues. She missed out on the 2023 World Athletics Championships individual meets and came back this month to participate in the Diamond League meet held in Brussels.

Herah has managed to better her previous season’s best time of 10.84, in Eugene, which is a big positive for her as she gears up for the Olympics. Her disappointment with the referee’s handling of the race shows her commitment to excellence. Moreover, her gradual return to top form is a promising sign for her future endeavors.

Read More: After Missing Showdown With Sha’Carri Richardson, World’s Fastest Woman Alive Elaine Thompson Finally Enters World Athletics Championship 2023 For Jamaica