Preview of the 2019 Prefontaine Classic; women’s 100m

Fraser-Pryce vs Richardson

The 2019 Prefontaine Classic will showcase some of the best female talents in the women’s 100m, on Sunday, June 30. 2019

Indeed, the talent pool will include the Jamaican two-time Olympic 100 Champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the American and defending 100m World Champion, Torrie Bowie, the Ivorian pair of Marie Jose Talou and Murielle Ahoure, the American, English Gardner, the Swiss, Mujinga Kambundji, the  Trinidadian, Michelle-Lee Ahye, and the young and exciting American, Sha’Carri Richardson. 

All eyes will be fully focused on Fraser-Pryce with personal best of 10.70 seconds and season best of 10.73econds, Sha’Carri Richardson with personal best and season best of 10.75 seconds, and Torrie Bowie with personal best of 10.78 seconds.  
 

Questions to be answered

This race should provide quite a few answers to questions that are now being asked. For example, just how good is the young talented Sha’Carri Richardson? What conditions are Torrie Bowie and Marie Talou in? Is Murielle Ahoure returning to her best? And, with Elaine Thompson not competing in the 100m, will Fraser-Pryce dominate, or will she be made to settle for the runner-up or lesser spot? 
 

Too close to call

One thing for sure, if the recent times by Fraser-Pryce and Richardson are anything to go by, 10.70 seconds or less, is not far-fetched. In fact, if Sha’Carri Richardson is as fast as her recent time of 10.75 seconds suggests, then she will provide very keen competition for Fraser-Pryce right down to the wire. But just who will win? Fraser-Pryce is a bullet starter. And, like Elaine Thompson, Sha’Carri Richardson is a fast closer. Will it be the bullet starter or the fast closer? The verdict is out! My heart says Fraser-Pryce. But my mind is in limbo. 

Should Fraser-Pryce win, and win convincingly, it would put a damper on Richardson’s 10.75 seconds done a couple of weeks ago in Texas, especially, if she wins and defeats Richardson in a time of 10.80 or slower. But should Richardson win, and win convincingly, it would be the boldest statement made to all female sprinters; and all would be served due notice that a new kid is now on the “block”.  Such a win by Richardson would shakeup the entire sprinting landscape and would give the clearest indication yet of what is likely to happen in Doha, Qatar, come September. I wait for this race with bated breath! It should provide fireworks and fast times! 

 

Henley Taylor (Ben Nyah), Sports Analyst and Writer.

Sha’Carri Richardson picture courtesy of Joe Swift Photography