‘I did not panic’ - Oakley opens up about debut pro race, first win

Dejanea Oakley, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One women’s outdoor 400-metre champion, produced the best performance by a Jamaican at the two-day Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, the ninth stop on the Wanda Diamond League series, which ended yesterday.

Oakley claimed victory in the women’s 400 on Friday’s opening day, making a winning professional debut in the event. Following the late withdrawal of new world leader Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, Oakley seized the opportunity and showed tremendous finishing speed to secure the win.

Her former University of Georgia teammate, Aaliyah Butler of the United States, took control early after a fast start, while Oakley was fourth coming off the final bend. However, the Jamaican kept her composure and powered past her rivals over the final 50 metres to win in 49.84 seconds. Butler finished second in 49.97, with Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams third in 50.12.

Despite her slow start, Oakley said she remained confident.

“I did not panic because I knew the final part of my race is my strongest point. I had some doubts coming into the race after missing a week of training due to dental surgery, but I just did what I do in practice and pulled through,” said Oakley, who admitted she was also a bit nervous before the start.

On yesterday’s second day of competition, Rajindra Campbell and Oblique Seville were Jamaica’s top performers with second-place finishes in the men’s shot put and men’s 100 metres, respectively.

Campbell opened with a throw of 22.16m and held on for second place behind Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, who produced a world-leading 22.74m. American Jordan Geist was third with 21.98m.

In a non-Diamond League men’s 100m, world champion Seville clocked 9.89 seconds for second behind Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi, who surprised the field with a personal best and national record equalling 9.84. American Christian Coleman was third in 9.95, while Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake finished fifth in 10.06.

PERSONAL BEST

National champion Demario Prince, drafted into the meet at the last minute, produced a personal best 13.01 seconds to finish third in the men’s 110m hurdles. American Jamal Britt won in a personal best and meet record 12.86 seconds, with fellow American Ja’Kobe Tharp, the recent world record holder was second in 12.91. Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett was fifth in 13.15.

Roje Stona also secured a podium finish, taking third in the men’s discus with 67.42m. Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna won with 71.06m, ahead of Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh, who threw 69.94m.

In the women’s 100m, American duo Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sha’Carri Richardson dominated, with Jefferson-Wooden winning in a season’s best 10.78 seconds, just ahead of Richardson’s 10.79. World leader Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands was third in 10.80.

Jonielle Smith was the leading Jamaican, finishing fourth in a personal best 10.89. Tina Clayton was fifth in 11.00 and Shericka Jackson sixth in 11.02, while Tia Clayton failed to advance to the final after placing fifth in her semifinal in 11.14.

American Masai Russell continued her fine form in the women’s 100m hurdles, winning in a meet record 12.24 seconds. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan was second in 12.34 and Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas, third in 12.41. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams finished fifth in a season’s best 12.51, while Ackera Nugent was sixth in 12.63.

In the men’s 200m, World Championship bronze medallist Bryan Levell finished fifth in 20.20 seconds and Adrian Kerr was ninth in 20.78. American teenager Tate Taylor won in a personal best 19.75, finishing ahead of world champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, second in 19.93.