Lucky number 10.65

TRACK GEEKS just can’t get the number 10.65 out of their heads.

The first time they heard it, Shericka Jackson was storming to a new personal best at the National Championships in Kingston.

The next time they heard it, Shericka’s world-leading time from Kingston had been matched by Sha’Carri Richardson in front of Jackson and defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Funnily enough, they’ll hear it again today as the Diamond League restarts after Budapest in Zurich, Switzerland.

In a remarkable stroke of coincidence, 10.65 seconds is the Zurich meet record, and it is held jointly by Elaine Thompson Herah and Fraser-Pryce.

Thompson Herah ran her Zurich 10.65 during her sensational 2021 season. Her best this year is 11.06 seconds.

The Mummy Rocket is out for the season following her travails in the Budapest 4x100, but Thompson Herah will be there along with her compatriots Shashalee Forbes and Natasha Morrison to face Richardson in the 100.

The flamboyant American has only lost one 100 metres final all season – to St Lucian Julien Alfred. On top of that, the 23-year-old World Champion has a 3-0 win-loss record over Jackson this season, and if you listen too much to the track geeks, they’ll tell you her 10.65 is ‘faster’ than Jackson’s.

The Jamaican had a 1.0 metre per second aiding wind when she ran brilliantly at the Nationals compared to the negative 0.2 wisp that faced the finalists in Budapest.

That’s all track geek overbite. More importantly, almost everyone who starred in Budapest will be in Zurich.

Greek Militiadis Tentoglu and Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas escaped with gold medals courtesy of last-round heroics in Budapest.

Upset 1500 metres champion Josh Kerr of Scotland will be there, too, as will India’s javelin king, Neeraj Chopra; 400 metres hurdles supremo, Karsten Warholm of Norway; double sprint champion, Noah Lyles of the United States; Italy’s Olympic and world high jump champion, Gianmarco Tamberi; and Jamaica’s 100 metres hurdles world champion, Danielle Williams.

Jackson will be there, too, working on her undefeated season in the 200 metres, in which she is now the two-time world champion.

The meet will provide a chance for redemption for the consistent Natoya Goule-Toppin, who, surprisingly, missed the Budapest 800 final after reaching the medal round at the previous three major championships.

On centre stage will be US-raised Swede Armand Duplantis, who wasn’t far from his own world pole vault record – 6.21 metres – in Budapest. Whenever he vaults, the record is in danger.

Despite all that the Zurich Diamond League has to offer, most Jamaicans will be watching the women’s 100 more than any other event and with the track geeks mumbling the number 10.65 under their breath.

Hubert Lawrence has made notes at track side since 1980.

Jamaicans at the Zurich Diamond League

Time Name Event

1:04 p.m. Roshawn Clarke men’s 400m hurdles

1:15 p.m. Elaine Thompson-Herah women’s 100m

Shashalee Forbes

Natasha Morrison

1:24 p.m. Tajay Gayle men’s long jump

Carey McLeod -

1:53 p.m. Natoya Goule Toppin women’s 800m

Adelle Tracey

2:04 p.m. Shericka Jackson women’s 200m

2:33 p.m. Danielle Williams women’s 100m hurdles