Is Jamaica's Tia Clayton a threat to Sha'Carri Richardson at Paris Olympics? Exploring the 100m sprinter's recent form

By Soumik Bhattacharya

Modified Jul 24, 2024 17:26 GMT

Following her solid performance at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials last month, Sha'Carri Richardson will have her eyes set on the Women's 100m gold at the Paris Olympics. However, the 24-year-old will have to navigate through a path that consists of various other talented athletes.

One such participant in the Women's 100m event is 19-year-old Jamaican sprinter Tia Clayton, who has been in top form this season. She recently showed her potential during the Jamaican Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Running in the 100m event finals, Clayton grabbed second place and registered a time of 10.90 seconds. She finished just behind 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Shericka Jackson, who raced past the finish line in 10.84 seconds.

During the semifinals of the Jamaican Championships, Clayton also registered her best run time in the Women's 100m at 10.86 seconds, just 0.21 seconds more than that of Richardson (10.65 seconds).

The 19-year-old also put up impressive performances at the recently concluded Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix. She clinched the silver medal in the 100m event with a run time of 11.06 seconds.

With all these impressive performances by the 19-year-old over the past couple of months, it wouldn't be wrong to state that Clayton can pose a threat to Sha'Carri Richardson in the Women's 100m event in Paris.

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All you need to know about Sha'Carri Richardson's other challengers in the Women's 100m at the Paris Olympics

Sha' Carri Richardson at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials (Image via Getty)

In the Women's 100m event at the Paris Olympics, Sha'Carri Richardson will face a tough Jamaican challenge. The most potent challengers for the American sprinter will be none other than last edition's silver and bronze medalists in the event - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

Both Jackson and Fraser-Pryce have competed in four 100m races this season and have emerged victorious on three occasions among them. In the Jamaican National Championships too, the duo of Jackson and Fraser-Pryce clinched the first and third positions respectively.

The experienced Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith will also grace the Women's 100m event and will be one of the favorites for a podium finish considering her performances at the Jamaican Athletics Invitational (first place) and Stockholm Diamond League (second place).

Various other participants, such as Shashalee Forbes, Julien Alfred, Tamari Davis, and Dina Asher-Smith could also pose a tough challenge to the Texas native.