‘Jamaica, we got something for you’
Shannon Sharpe adds fuel to Olympics sprint rivalry after strong performances at US trials
It’s on. The rivalry between Jamaican and American sprinters – one of the most exciting Olympic rivalries to emerge in recent years – is heating up once more.
ESPN commentator Shannon Sharpe celebrated the victory of US sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson who cruised to win the women’s 100 metres with a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds on Sunday to stamp her ticket for the Paris Olympics.
“We got something for you. Jamaica women, I am putting y’all on notice,” Sharpe railed during his appearance on First Take on ESPN alongside host Stephen A Smith.
Richardson appeared impressive in her outing as she accelerated by the other sprinters at 60 metres and crossed the line well ahead of Melissa Jefferson (10.8) and Twanisha Terry who got third with a time of 10.98.
Sharpe believes that the US women have laid down a marker for Jamaican sprinters like two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson. Jackson is the fifth fastest woman of all time in the 100m, while in the 200 m, she’s the second fastest woman in history.
Sharpe clapped his hands together in a whipping-beating motion to suggest that the US sprinters have the edge over Jamaican sprinters.
“Just get that thing in the hands of Noah Lyles…we got something for you,” Sharpe boasted.
On the men’s side, the American men also sent a statement at the just-concluded US trials. Sprinter Noah Lyles had a first-place, 9.83-second finish ahead of Kenny Bednarek (9.87 seconds) and Fred Kerley (9.88 seconds). All three are making their second Olympic appearances.
Earlier this month, Oblique Seville won the 100m in a world-leading 9.82 (0.9m/s) at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event in Kingston, beating Lyles in style.
There has been a robust competition between the US and Jamaica with the US emerging victorious for years before the Beijing Games changed the dynamics of the rivalry. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt blew everyone off the track with world records and gold in the 100 and 200, and Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown captured the gold in the women’s 100 and 200-metre races respectively.
Since then, the Jamaican team continued its dominance in major international meets, but the balance of power has appeared to shift back towards the US in recent world championship performances.
