Jamaican athletes displayed irresistible form in various meets throughout the world last weekend. There were world-class performances on and off the track, with high-class talent showing brilliance from the colleges to the Diamond League.
LA Grand Prix
Pride of place went to Shot Putter, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, who improved on her previous National Record of (19.55m) with a heave of 19.77m at the LA Grand Prix in California. The event was won by American Maggy Ewen with 20.45m.
Thomas-Dodd – LA Grand Prix 2023 – Photo: Earl Bailey
At the same meet, the ever-improving sprinter Ackeem Blake won the 100m in 9.89, demonstrating raw speed and uncanny composure. He ran down, caught and beat American Christian Coleman, the 2019 World champion in the 100m. Coleman had stolen a march on the field with his usual great start, but Blake managed to overhaul him and his countryman Cravont Charleston in the final five metres for the win. Both Americans were clocked at 9.91.
In the one-lap event, Sean Bailey pulled off a major upset when he won the 400m in 44.43 in a similar manner to Blake. Bailey looked out of it with 75m to go but found the energy to make up 10m on the Olympic and former World Champion, Kirani James, who ran 44.50 for second.
Shawn Bailey – Courtesy UTEP
Hydel High’s Alana Reid was third in the women’s 100m with 11.08, and Shashalee Forbes was 5th in 11.13. Jaheel Hyde posted 49.80 in the 400mh.
Rabat Diamond League
The 200m at Rabat Diamond League proved the perfect situation for world champion Shericka Jackson to exhibit her current condition. Even after a poor start, she was able to run down the opposition and win in a meeting record of 21.98.
Shericka Jackson – Image (Stream Capture) by Earl Bailey
Like Blake, Bailey and Jackson, Rasheed Broadbell was forced to run down the leader in the 110mh for his victory. American Grant Holloway was gone by the 4th hurdles but Broadbell, the Commonwealth champion, overtook him to win in 13.08. Holloway was 2nd in 13.12 and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment was 3rd in 13.24 into a 1.3m/s wind.
At the same meet, Rusheen McDonald finished 3rd in the 400m with 45.55 and Natoya Goule was 4th in the 800m with 2:00.91. Rushell Clayton 54.15, Shiann Salmon 54.42 and Jenieve Russell 55.41, were 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively in the women’s 400mh to American Shamier Little, 53.95.
NCAA Regionals (West)
At the college level, former Edwin Allen standout Kevona Davis, now at the University of Texas, showed vast improvement in the NCAA regionals, posting 22.33 to win her heat of the 200m, while Nickisha Pryce, formerly of Vere Technical and now at the University of Arkansas, ran a PB 50.49 in the 400m.