Between them, Jamaican sprint superstars Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have produced a season for the ages. The duo now account for six of the top-10 official timings ever recorded in women’s 100m events.

On Thursday, Thompson-Herah led a host of Olympic champions to glory in an action-packed Diamond League final in Zurich, just a month after the end of the Tokyo Games. Her compatriot Fraser-Pryce was not part of the 100m lineup at this event.

Thompson-Herah crowned what she called an “amazing” season by scorching to victory in the 100m in a meet record of 10.65sec, finishing ahead of Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (10.87) at the iconic Letzigrund Stadium. That mark was the 10th joint fastest all time and with this, she owns four entries in the top 10.

“It has been a crazy season, a long one and a tiring one. I was so consistent because I was just keeping the faith in me and did not allow any negativity,” said the second fastest female sprinter ever and the fastest woman alive at the end of her sensational season.

“This year, it was a long season with ups and downs, but next year, the world record is definitely on my mind,” she added, speaking about Florence Griffith-Joyner’s official world record that has stood since 1988.

Fraser-Pryce, who won silver at the Olympics, has two timings this season that feature in the top 10.

Women’s 100m all-time best timings set in 2021:

Elaine Thompson-Herah: 2nd, joint-4th, 8th and joint-10th 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: 3rd and 7th

Here’s a look at the best women’s 100m timings recorded:

The best women's 100m times of all time

Rank Mark WIND Competitor Country Venue Date
1 10.49 0.0 Florence GRIFFITH-JOYNER USA Indianapolis, IN (USA) 16 JUL 1988
2 10.54 +0.9 Elaine THOMPSON-HERAH JAM Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) 21 AUG 2021
3 10.60 +1.7 Shelly-Ann FRASER-PRYCE JAM Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) 26 AUG 2021
4 10.61 +1.2 Florence GRIFFITH-JOYNER USA Indianapolis, IN (USA) 17 JUL 1988
4 10.61 -0.6 Elaine THOMPSON-HERAH JAM Olympic Stadium, Tokyo (JPN) 31 JUL 2021
6 10.62 +1.0 Florence GRIFFITH-JOYNER USA Olympic Stadium, Jamsil, Seoul (KOR) 24 SEP 1988
7 10.63 +1.3 Shelly-Ann FRASER-PRYCE JAM National Stadium, Kingston (JAM) 05 JUN 2021
8 10.64 +1.2 Carmelita JETER USA Shanghai (CHN) 20 SEP 2009
8 10.64* +1.7 Elaine THOMPSON-HERAH JAM Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) 26 AUG 2021
10 10.65 +1.1 Marion JONES USA SGJ, Johannesburg (RSA) 12 SEP 1998
10 10.65 +0.6 Elaine THOMPSON-HERAH JAM Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) 09 SEP 2021
*Only entry in this list that wasn't enough to win a race

Top 10 athletes in women's 100m all-time

Rank Mark WIND Competitor Nat Venue Date
1 10.49 0.0 Florence GRIFFITH-JOYNER USA Indianapolis, IN (USA) 16 JUL 1988
2 10.54 +0.9 Elaine THOMPSON-HERAH JAM Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) 21 AUG 2021
3 10.60 +1.7 Shelly-Ann FRASER-PRYCE JAM Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) 26 AUG 2021
4 10.64 +1.2 Carmelita JETER USA Shanghai (CHN) 20 SEP 2009
5 10.65 +1.1 Marion JONES USA SGJ, Johannesburg (RSA) 12 SEP 1998
6 10.72 +1.6 Sha'Carri RICHARDSON USA Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) 10 APR 2021
7 10.73 +2.0 Christine ARRON FRA Népstadion, Budapest (HUN) 19 AUG 1998
8 10.74 +1.3 Merlene OTTEY JAM Arena Civica, Milano (ITA) 07 SEP 1996
8 10.74 +1.0 English GARDNER USA Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) 03 JUL 2016
10 10.75 +0.4 Kerron STEWART JAM Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) 10 JUL 2009

Stats via World Athletics

(With inputs from AFP)