American upstart Sha’Carri Richardson threw down the gauntlet to Jamaican sprint queens Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah – winners of the last three Olympic 100m titles – when she clocked an incredible 10.72 to win the blue-riband sprint at the Miramar South Florida Invitational earlier today (April 10).

The 21-year-old 2019 NCAA 100m champion is now the fifth fastest woman in history as only Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah (10.70), Marion Jones (10.65), Carmelita Jeter (10.64) and Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49) have run faster.

In what was the highlight of the meet, Richardson, whose previous best was 10.75, got off to a poor start but blazed through the field before easing 10m from the tape leaving Javianne Oliver (11.07) and Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte (11.16) in her wake. Natasha Morrison was fourth in 11.22.

Meanwhile, Danielle Thomas-Dodd and Tajay Gayle were the only two Jamaican winners at the meet held at the Ansin Sports Complex, the training ground of 2018 double World U20 sprint champion Briana Williams, who competed in the 200m.

World Championship silver medalist Danielle Thomas-Dodd, threw 19.17m to win the shot put over Magdalyn Ewen of the United States (US), who produced 18.69m for second place.

Jessica Ramsay, also of the US, was third with her effort of 18.61m.

Gayle, the 2019 World Champion, had a leap of 8.27m to take the long jump competition that saw five competitors go beyond eight metres. Holland Martin of the Bahamas finished second with his best jump of 8.15m while Damacus Simpson’s 8.05m secured him a third-place finish.

In the Women’s 800m, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule, a three-time NCAA champion and 2019 World Championship finalist, led for most of the race before she was passed late by American Ajee Wilson who pulled away to win in 2:00.57 to Goule’s 2:00.92. Allie Wilson was third in 2:02.58.

RAHJAY HAMILTON TAKES THIRD IN 800-METRE

Jamaica’s Rahjay Hamilton fought hard for a third-place finish in the men’s 800m clocking 1:48.32. He was a stride behind the US’s Kameron Jones, who led for most of the race before both were overtaken by Abe Alvarado who powered from behind to win in 1:47.29.

 Kameron Jones, who was nipped at the tape clocked 1:47.32 for second place.

Kyrie King won the men’s 100m in 9.97, edging veteran sprinter Justin Gatlin at the line. The 2019 World Champion clocked 9.98 while finishing just ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s Cejhae Green who equaled his personal best of 10.00 while finishing third.

THOMPSON-HERAH FOURTH IN HALF-LAP SPRINT

Thompson-Herah, the Olympic 200m champion, was fourth in the half-lap sprint in 22.44 while Williams was sixth in 22.93. The race was won by the American Jenna Prandini in 22.29, who held off the challenge of Bahrain’s Brittany Brown, who crossed the line second in 22.39.

Candice Hill of the US was third in 22.43.

The meet ended on a sad note for Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield, who fell to the track in the men’s 200m and did not finish. There was no official word on what was the nature of his injury in the race won by Kenny Bednarek in a windy 19.65. The race was run with a trailing wind of 4m/s, twice the allowable limit.

Emmanuel Matadi finished second in 20.20 while EJ Floreal was third in 20.41.