At Friday’s Doha Diamond League meeting, 20-year-old Jamaican sprinter Tia Clayton delivered a breakout performance that shook the track world. In a dazzling run, she clocked a world-leading 10.92sec to claim gold in the women’s 100m, leaving two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce off the podium.
Clayton’s twin sister, Tina, secured silver with 11.02sec, followed closely by Britain’s Amy Hunt in 11.03sec. The legendary Fraser-Pryce, competing on the Diamond League circuit for the first time in three years, crossed the line in 11.05sec, finishing fourth in what could be her swansong season.
The Paris Olympics were a challenging outing for Fraser-Pryce, who withdrew from the 100m semi-finals. But Clayton’s rise in Doha signals a new era of Jamaican sprint talent, as she looks to build on her seventh-place finish at last year’s Games.
On the men’s side, Botswana’s 21-year-old Letsile Tebogo claimed victory in the 200m with a cautious 20.10sec, holding off American Courtney Lindsey by just one hundredth of a second. Tebogo’s win, while decisive, revealed areas he’ll look to sharpen ahead of the season’s next big meets.
With her world-leading time, Tia Clayton has officially announced herself as Jamaica’s next sprint queen, setting the stage for a thrilling season of track and field.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
