Elaine Thompson-Herah who had won the last two 100 m Olympic titles, was unable to defend her Olympic title as an achilles tendon injury forced her to withdraw from the Jamaican Olympic trials, thus not allowing her to qualify for these games;
2020 bronze medallist Shericka Jackson pulled out after suffering an injury at the
Gyulai István Memorial to "protect her body" before her primary event, the
200 metres; World number two
Jacious Sears was injured in the SEC Championships and was unable to compete at the
US Trials.
Reigning World champion,
Sha'Carri Richardson, tied with Jackson for #6 of all time, won the
US Trials, and was viewed as one of the favourites for the title.
2008 and
2012 Olympic champion
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also returned after finishing third at the Jamaican Trials behind Jackson and teenager
Tia Clayton. Meanwhile,
2017 World silver medalist and
African record holder Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, was also seen as a strong contender. In the heats, Ta Lou-Smith ran the fastest time with 10.87 s to win her heat, with Fraser-Pryce tied with
Daryll Neita for the next fastest in 10.92 s. In the semi-finals, Fraser-Pryce was unable to compete due to an undisclosed injury. Alfred had the fastest qualifying time with 10.84 s to win her semi-final, with Richardson and Clayton tying for the second-fastest time with 10.89 s. In the final, Alfred had the fastest start, reaching the 10 m mark first. Next to her, Richardson was seventh at the same point. As Alfred expanded her lead across the next 40 m, a row of chasers formed across the track; with
Mujinga Kambundji being second at the 50 m mark, Neita third and Jefferson narrowly fourth. Ta Lou-Smith pulled-up injured at the 40 m mark. Richardson finished quickly and crossed the 80 m mark in second-place behind Alfred. Her training-partner, Jefferson also finished quickly and was third at the same point ahead of Neita in fourth. Alfred ran a new personal best, 10.72; == Background ==