Elaine Thompson-Herah Blasts World No. 2 100; Jaylen Slade, Shawnti Jackson Shine Against Pros

By Todd Grasley of DyeStat

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Two weeks after Sha’Carri Richardson put the sprint world on notice with her 10.72-second 100-meter dash, Elaine Thompson-Herah, the reigning Olympic champion in both the 100 and 200, sent a message of her own Sunday night at the Pure Athletics Sprint Elite meet in Clermont, Fla. with her world No. 2 mark of 10.78.

Natalliah Whyte of PUMA MVP International was a distant second in 11.08.

Meanwhile, high school sophomore Shawnti Jackson, the daughter of Olympian Bershawn “Batman” Jackson,  celebrated her 16th birthday Sunday by demonstrating her talent by finishing fifth in a prep-leading time of 11.28 seconds.

For Jackson, it was the first 100 of her 2021 season and just the second since 2019.

“It was a great experience racing against Thompson-Herah,” Jackson said. "She’s where I want to be one day.”

IMG Academy FL senior Hannah Douglas was ninth in a US#3 time of 11.56.

Jackson returned for a second US#1 performance when she won the 200 in 23.15 seconds. She beat Natasha Morrison (23.21), a member of Jamaica’s gold medal 4x100-meter relay at the World Championships in Doha.

Douglas and Jackson’s RunUXpress teammate, Kayla Davis, finished sixth and seventh. 

“Overall, I was extremely excited to compete today because it was my first 100 and 200 meters as a high schooler,” Jackson said. “I didn’t run last year because of COVID. I was a little tired before the 200 meters, but I was more focused on executing a good race and finishing stronger."

Jaylen Slade Runs 10.04/20.20 Double

Cejhae Greene, Yohan Blake, and 17-year-old adidas professional Erriyon Knighton ran wind-aided (2.7 m/s) times of 9.98, 9.98, and 9.99 respectively in the 100 prelims, building the tension for a great the final. 

Knighton’s performance was only the third time a U-20 American has run under 10 seconds under any conditions, joining Trayvon Bromell and Matthew Boling.

Greene, the former FSU sprinter competing for PUMA MVP International, edged out Blake, the four-time Olympic medalist, once again 10.016 to 10.019 to win the final.

The story of the night was Jaylen Slade, who clocked a slightly wind-aided (2.2 m/s) 10.04 to finish fourth after running 10.03 in the prelims. 

The IMG Academy FL star's time was the fastest all-conditions 100 meters for a high school junior, surpassing Marvin Bracy’s 10.05 from the USATF Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2011. Knighton was fifth in the race in 10.07.

"Man, it was a blessing to be able to go against those guys and coming into the meet knowing that I may be able to qualify for the Olympic Trials," Slade said. "They pushed me to the limit, I knew I had to just wait for that moment to come. I was expecting it to be wind-legal, but I had tears of joy knowing the race I had run."

Slade would return 75 minutes later for the 200-meter final and continue his torrid night with a legal 20.20 (0.3 m/s), the fastest time of the night and just shy of the high school national record of 20.09 set by Noah Lyles in 2016 at the Olympic Trials. His performance is fourth all-time behind Lyles and Tyreek Hill and Michael Norman, who both ran 20.14.

It is also the second-fastest ever by a high school junior behind Lyles, who ran 20.18 in 2015. It is second on the all-time U-18 list, trailing only Usain Bolt (20.13).

"I just thought of coming out stronger, catch the guy in front of me, and finishing really in that 200 meters," he added. "I’m really excited about qualifying (for the Olympic Trials), but I really felt I could have done a lot better and run a better time. When you mention those guys above, it's an honor to be in the company of such phenomenal athletes."

Overall, Slade was pleased with the night, but noted that the work isn't done.

"I am very happy with my result today," he said. "We've trained so hard for the last three weeks. Next, we will go to Boston for the adidas Boost Boston Games and then we will prepare for the Olympic Trials."

Tobi Amüsan of Nigeria, the 2018 African Championships gold medalist, and Commonwealth Games Champion, won the wpmen's 100-meter hurdles in 12.48 seconds. Her mark ties Keni Harrison for second best in the world and trails only Jasmine Camacho-Quinn’s 12.32.

British jumper Shara Proctor won the long jump with a mark of 22-2.50 (6.77m), tied for 10th globally in 2021.

Shericka Jackson of Jamaica won the 400 in 52.01 over Kaylin Whitney, who crossed the line in 52.29. High schooler Kayla Davis of RunUXpress (N.C.) finished in 55.88.

On the men’s side, it was Bahamian Michael Mathieu taking the 400 in 46.80 over Jamaican Nathon Allen , who was right behind him in 46.85.