Women’s 100m Odds: Can Dina Asher-Smith challenge at the 2022 World Athletics Championships?

The 2022 World Athletics Championships gets underway on Friday 15th July over in the United States with 10 days of track and field action to look forward to as the best athletes on the planet battle it out for gold.

The 100m always captures the imagination, whether you’re a hardcore athletics fan or casual viewer. It’s explosive, dramatic, and inspiring.

We’ve already previewed the Men’s 100m - link below - but it’s the Women’s 100m that I really like the look of this year. Florence Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing world record of 10.49 - set back in 1988 - is under serious threat as a trio of scorching Jamaicans - Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, and Shericka Jackson - fight it out for the top gong, while Britain’s own Dina Asher-Smith will be looking to spoil the party.

Below we’ve taken a closer look at the main contenders for gold and their odds to come out on top in Oregon….

Set those alarm clocks: the Women’s 100m final is scheduled for 2.50am on Monday morning (18th, July).

Elaine Thompson-Herah: 5/6

The fastest woman alive, Elaine Thompson-Herah, is the odds-on favourite for gold at 5/6 with William Hill.

The Jamaican is a five-time Olympic champion who has the second fastest Women’s 100m time ever, clocking in at a rapid 10.54 last year.

Perhaps surprisingly the 30-year-old has not yet added a 100m World Championships gold to her vast medal haul, something she’ll be gunning to change in Oregon.

​​Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce: 13/8

The iconic Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce has been bagging medals since 2008, and shows no sign of slowing down 14 years further down the track.

The reigning World Champion has won the event a whopping four times - more than any woman in history - including three of the last four editions, while she also has two Olympic golds on her CV.

The 35-year-old now heads to the States looking to pocket No.5, and is boosted by a 2022 world leading time of 10.67 which she’s registered twice this year. "This season I am definitely looking forward to run 10.5 and possibly 10.4 because that’s the aim," she said a few months ago.

Shericka Jackson: 5/1

Next in the running is another Jamaican, Shericka Jackson, who is bidding to upset her compatriots and strike gold in Oregon.

The Olympic bronze medalist can draw confidence from her victory at the Jamaican Championships, which saw Thompson-Herah relegated to 3rd, although Fraser Pryce wasn’t involved. Jackson also secured the 200m title at the nationals.

At 5/1 the in-form Jackson could represent some value here.

Dina Asher-Smith: 25/1

At the last World Champs in 2019, Dina Asher-Smith scooped silver behind Fraser Pryce, recording a national record in the process (10.83). She then won gold in the 200m.

Injury meant Asher-Smith wasn’t able to perform at her peak at last year’s Olympics, meaning she’ll be double-determined this time around, and has a couple of Diamond League victories on the board this season. 

Admittedly she’s not setting rip-roaring times right now (season's best of 10.98) and lost out to ​​Daryll Neita in the British Championships, so it would take something pretty astonishing for Asher-Smith to beat all three of the Jamaican hot-shots, reflected in her price out at 25/1. A medal could be within her grasp though.

Other Contenders

Don’t forget the Americans Aleia Hobbs (28/1) and US Championship victor Melissa Jefferson (33/1), Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred is available at 28/1, whereas Britain’s Daryll Neita - who beat Dina to British glory - is out at 100/1.

Full odds below...