Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard “Torpedo” Thompson picked up silver in the men’s 100 metres dash at the Meeting Areva IAAF Diamond League meet, in Paris, France, yesterday.
Running into a 0.8 metres per second headwind, Thompson got to the line in 10.08 seconds to secure the runner-up spot, behind American champion Michael Rodgers, who clocked ten seconds flat.
Former world champion Kim Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, finished third in 10.10, while fourth spot went to Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.12).
Thompson has been in superb form this season. On May 31, the 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist won at a meet in Florida, USA in a wind-assisted 9.74 seconds. He was also victorious on June 8 at a meet in Hengelo, Netherlands, getting home in 9.95. Three days later, Thompson clocked 10.02 to claim gold at the Bislett Games IAAF Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway.
Thompson’s best run this season came on June 21 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. In front of his adoring fans, the T&T track star captured the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championship men’s 100m title in 9.82 seconds—a new national record and, at the time, the fastest time in the world this year.
Thompson is now second on the 2014 global performance list, behind 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, the American clocking 9.80 seconds for gold at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.