Thompson Herah shows improvement

Jamaica's two-time Olympic Games double sprint defending champion Elaine Thompson Herah had an improved showing at yesterday's Gala del Castelli Bellinosa meet in Switzerland as she won the women's 100 metres.

It was the first victory of the season in the event for Thompson Herah, who clocked a season's best of 10.92 seconds at the meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Level competition.

She finished ahead of Great Britain's Imani-Lara Lansiquot, who clocked a personal best of 10.99 and Gambia's Gina Bass with 11.12. Shashalee Forbes, a semi-finalist for Jamaica at the recent World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, ended fifth in 11.20.

Thompson Herah, the 100 and 200 metres winner at the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games in 2016 and 2020, respectively, has had a difficult season, which prompted her failure to earn an individual spot on Jamaica's World Championships team in Budapest.

She has been slowly showing signs of improvement, finishing third last Thursday in the 100 metres at the Zurich Diamond League in 11.00 seconds.

Meanwhile, there were also wins for Jamaicans Natoya Goule Topping and Oblique Seville at the meet.

Seville, who just missed a medal at the recent World Championships, was in a competitive lineup and won the men's 100 metres in 10.01 seconds.

He held off the fast-finishing Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, who was second in 10.04 seconds, as South Africa's Akani Simbine took third in 10.13. Seville's compatriot, Ryiem Forde, a finalist in the event in Budapest, ended seventh in 10.28.

Goule Topping, after disappointment in Budapest, where she failed to make the final of the women's 800 metres, and at the Zurich Diamond League last Thursday, where she ended ninth, was in good form yesterday.

She ran a more controlled race to win in a meet record of 1:57.53 minutes. Addison Wiley of the United States of America ended second in 1:57.64 minutes, with Switzerland's Audrey Werro taking third in 1:58.13 minutes.

Three other Jamaicans - Forbes, Orlando Bennett and Fedrick Dacres - had top-three finishes in their respective events.

Forbes returned from the 100 metres to take second in the women's 200 metres in 22.74 seconds, behind the USA's Tamara Clarke, who won in 22.64 seconds.

It was third-place finishes for both Bennett and Dacres.

Competing in the men's 110 metres hurdles, Bennett clocked 13.40 seconds, as Jason Joseph of Switzerland won in 13.18.

In the men's discus, Dacres threw 66.19 metres as Daniel Stahl of Sweden won with 67.29 metres, ahead of Kristjan Ceh of Slovakia with 67.15.