Richardson edges Alfred in Zurich 100m to avenge Olympic result

American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson avenged her Olympic defeat by St Lucia’s Julien Alfred with a victory in the women’s 100m final at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich. In the Olympics, Alfred had made history by becoming St Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold medallist, winning the 100m and 200m events in Paris, while Richardson took silver in the 100m.

However, in Switzerland, Richardson came out on top, clocking 10.84 seconds in a strong field. Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who did not make the Olympic final, finished third, while her fellow Briton Daryll Neita placed seventh.

In the men’s 200m final, Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo continued his stellar season, winning in 19.55 seconds. Americans Kenneth Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton finished second and third, respectively.

The men’s 1500m event was a thrilling race, with Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse edging out Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen for the win. Nuguse had also beaten the Olympic champion in Paris, while Cole Hocker, another American, finished third. Britain’s world champion Josh Kerr, who won Olympic silver, ended up in fifth place.

In the women’s 800m, Britain’s Georgia Bell, the Olympic bronze medallist in the 1500m, came second behind Kenya’s Mary Moraa, while GB’s Jemma Reekie placed fourth.

Sweden’s Olympic pole vault champion Armand Duplantis showcased his consistent form with a victory, following his win in a 100m exhibition race against 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm the day before.

The penultimate Diamond League meeting before the two-night final in Brussels next week also saw Kenyan double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet set a world-leading time of 14:09.52 in the women’s 5000m.

Other Olympic champions from Paris who triumphed in Zurich included Ukraine’s high jump world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, American shot put champion Ryan Crouser, and Grant Holloway, who won the 110m hurdles in 12.99 seconds.