Jamaicans litter Rome Diamond League

When the fourth leg of the Wanda Diamond League, the Petro Mennea Golden Gala, gets under way tomorrow in Rome, Italy, Jamaican athletes will be well represented, with 13 of them set to compete on the track and in the field.

On the track, Nickisha Pryce will lead the country's charge when she lines up in the women's 400 metres at 3:15 p.m. Jamaican time. After producing a come-from-behind victory in Shanghai, where she nipped the front-running Aaliyah Butler (49.78 seconds) of the United States on the line in 49.75, both athletes will renew their rivalry just like they did on the collegiate stage in the United States.

Both are expected to battle fiercely for the win once again while the likes of Amber Anning of Great Britain and Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands will be hoping to upset the pair.

Following fourth-place finishes in the women's 100m hurdles in Shanghai and Xiamen, sprint hurdler Megan Simmonds, with a season’s best of 12.52 seconds, will be hoping to go all the way when she contests the event at 2:28 p.m. 

She will be joined by compatriot Danielle Williams, who failed to fire in both meets in China and will be hoping to improve on her season's best 12.90. Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, along with the United States duo of Tonea Marshall and former world record holder Kendra Harrison, should make this an interesting affair.

Another exciting event should be the women's 200 metres at 3:27 p.m. The half-lap event will feature world leader Julien Alfred of St Lucia, who has a season's best 21.86 seconds, and World Championships double sprint champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who will make her season debut.

Sprint hurdlers and World Championships medallists Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason will compete in the men's 110m hurdles at 2:38 p.m. Bennett will be contesting his third meet of the season and is coming off a third-place finish and a season's best 13.20 seconds in Xiamen while Mason will be making his season debut.

American Jamal Britt will be hoping to make it three wins in a row after taking victories in both Shanghai and Xiamen, where he clocked a season's best 13.07 seconds at both meets, equalling his personal best. 

Ackeem Blake, with a season's best 9.99 seconds, will be the other Jamaican involved in track action as he contests the men's 100 metres, the final event of the meet, at 3:52 p.m. 

He will line up against American star Noah Lyles, who has a season's best 9.95 seconds; World Indoor 60-metre champion Anthony Jordan of the USA, who has run 9.91 seconds this season; Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya with 9.94 seconds; Akani Simbine of South Africa with 9.98 seconds; World Championships 200-metre gold medallist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, and home boy Jacobs Lamont Mercell.

Jamaica will also be strongly represented in the field.

Xiamen Diamond League winner Rajindra Campbell goes in the men's shot put. Campbell will be hoping to bounce back from his seventh-place finish in Rabat.

Others down to compete in the field include Jaydon Hibbert and world leader Jordan Scott in the triple jump, Tajay Gayle and Wayne Pinnock in the long jump, and Romaine Beckford and Raymond Richards in the high jump.

Below are the Jamaicans scheduled to compete and their event times:

Fact Box

Jamaicans at Rome Diamond League

Men's Triple Jump: Jaydon Hibbert, Jordan Scott (12:48 p.m.)

Men's High Jump: Raymond Richards, Romaine Beckford (2:07 p.m.)

Men's Shot Put: Rajindra Campbell (2:27 p.m.)

Women's 100m Hurdles: Megan Simmonds, Danielle Williams (2:28 p.m.)

Men's Long Jump: Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle (2:35 p.m.)

Men's 110m Hurdles: Orlando Bennett, Tyler Mason (2:38 p.m.)

Women's 400 Metres: Nickisha Pryce (3:15 p.m.)

Men's 100 Metres: Ackeem Blake (3:52 p.m.)