With No Sha’Carri Richardson or Noah Lyles, Jamaica Makes Comeback From Paris Olympics Disappointment

August 26, 2024 Match90mins Olympic 0

Even after the conclusion of the Summer Olympics in Paris, the competitive spirit remains unwavering. The ongoing Diamond League competitions provide as evidence of this. Following Lausanne, the most recent DL stop was in Poland, provided by the Silesian stadium, where American sprinting stars Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles did not participate in the 100- and 200-meter races. However, a chance lost on one is a chance gained on another, right? And following their upset at the Olympics in Paris, it was the Jamaicans who rose like a phoenix this time!
The Silesia Diamond League results, as seen in an X post, indicate that the Jamaicans are back and stronger than ever. Take a look at the finished scoreboards! Rising talent Tia Clayton, 20, won her maiden Diamond League race in the women’s 100 meters by setting a personal record with a time of 10.83 seconds. In the absence of Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaica’s “big three,” Clayton stepped up and qualified for two finals in Paris (the 200m and the women’s 4x100m relay). Unfortunately, though, there were no podium finishes, ending Jamaica’s four-year Olympic run.
The Jamaican hurdler Ackera Nugent broke the meet record twice in the women’s 100-meter hurdles event, celebrating her maiden DL triumph! She finished the heats with a time of 12.30 and the finals with a scorching 12.29. Danielle Williams, a fellow Jamaican and two-time world athletics champion, finished in third place with a time of 12.38 seconds. It’s obvious that Jamaica’s young talent is on fire, and this suggests that the bar is about to rise much further.

Shanieka Ricketts also grabbed her first DL win with a 14.50m jump in the triple jump, a sweet redemption after her second-place finish in Paris. Meanwhile, Rasheed Broadbell, battling a groin injury, slipped from his Lausanne gold but held on to silver in the men’s 110m hurdles. Romaine Beckford shined in the high jump, also taking silver, while Rushell Clayton secured third in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 53.11s.

This performance was a massive upgrade from Paris, where Jamaica only managed six medals. Back then, the Americans had their moment in the spotlight, with Grant Holloway and Noah Lyles overshadowing Broadbell and Kishane Thompson. But now, with seven medals in Silesia, Jamaica is making a strong comeback. Yet, as the Jamaicans rise again, we have to ask—where are the American champions, Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson?

Noah Lyles and Sha’carri Richardson bid adieu for now

While Kenny Bednarek snagged a 200-meter bronze on August 25 in Silesia, Fred Kerley snatched gold in the 100m. But the spotlight was missing one major player—Noah Lyles. During an appearance on the Nightcap podcast, Lyles revealed that he’s officially calling it a season, skipping out on the remaining Diamond League races. This comes after he already sat out the Lausanne meet and the one in Poland.

Meanwhile, Sha’Carri Richardson just announced her season wrap-up too, dropping a boomerang on Instagram with the caption, “Last day out.” Despite a packed Diamond League schedule, the reigning 100-meter world champion has been MIA, giving Tia Clayton a chance to shine.

As for Jamaica, the Paris upset was a big one. Maurice Wilson, the technical director of Jamaica’s track and fi team, didn’t mince words when he said, “We dominated them for about nine years, non-stop, and they started to do their homework … and since then they have continued to move forward. We need to go back to the drawing board.” But is it redemption time at the Diamond Leagues now? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below

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