New sensation Elaine Thompson wins silver at World Championships

Photo: Jamaican 200m silver medalist Elaine Thompson (file photo)

Elaine Thompson won silver in the women 200 meters at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China. Thompson was beaten by 100 meter silver medalist Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands in a new Championship record of 21.63. Thompson who has been the new female sprint sensation in Jamaica was very pleased with the silver medal at her first senior championship for Jamaica. Running a near perfect race Thompson ran 21.66, which makes her the second fastest Jamaican behind the great Merlene Ottey 21.64.

Thompson, who is from Banana Ground in Manchester, is the sixth fastest women over 200 meters in the world, has a faster time than three previous gold medal winners at the World Championships. She has run faster than her teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Allyson Felix over the distance and must feel good after she was running 23 seconds a year ago.

Thompson who has been showing great form this season and has been impressive at each race but she was just beaten by the Dutch for the gold medal in one of the championship’s most competitive events. Thompson has a bright future ahead and may well be the new queen of 200 meter for Jamacia, as soon as Veronica Campbell-Brown hangs up her spikes.

The 23 year old Thompson started her season with a lot of 100 meter races and when it was announced that she will only do the 200 meter at the World Championships, it left the Jamaican public questioning that decision by her coach Stephen Francis. Those questions have now been sufficiently answered.