Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah, Asher-Smith, and Richardson set to clash in Gateshead

Jamaican’s multiple global gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and double defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah take on home crowd favourite Britain’s world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith and USA’s rising star and current world leader Sha’Carri Richardson will clash for the first time at Wanda Diamond League meeting on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Müller Grand Prix in Gateshead.

Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah, and Richardson occupy three of the top six places on the world all-time list, so if conditions in Gateshead are good, the meeting record of 10.93 could be broken.

21-year-old Richardson, the world under-20 record holder, clocked a stunning 10.72 lifetime best at the Miramar Invitational in Florida (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting) in April to go sixth on the world all-time list.

The American backed that up with another two sub-10.80 performances – 10.74 in the heat and 10.77 into a headwind in the final – at the USATF Golden Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting) held at Mt SAC in Walnut, California, on Sunday, May 9.

Thompson-Herah is also in fine form and ran 10.78 to win the Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet earlier this month after a windy 10.76 in her heat. A gold medallist over 100m and 200m in Rio 2016, she is ranked fourth-equal in the world all-time rankings (10.70) alongside Fraser-Pryce, double Olympic champion (2008 and 2012) and multiple world champion over 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay.

The 2021 Wanda Diamond League comprises 14 meetings – starting with Gateshead (replacing Rabat as the first host city on this year’s circuit) on Sunday, May 23 – leading to a single final across two days in Zurich at the end of the season. Each meeting will be broadcast globally in a live two-hour programme.