Campbell warms up for Diamond League Final with national record

Olympic Games shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell and national 400m record holder Nickisha Pryce were in outstanding form on Sunday in Europe as they tuned up for this weekend’s Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium.

Leading the way was Campbell, who was competing at the World Continental Tour Silver meet in Brescia, Italy, where he extended his national record to 22.59 metres.

Campbell improved on his previous national mark of 22.44m, set in June. His new effort is the second-best throw in the world this year, behind Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, whose season-best stands at 22.75m.

Campbell got the better of Fabbri on Sunday, with the Italian finishing second at 21.99m. Campbell’s throw also moves him to 13th on the all-time world list.

At the same meet, national 400m record holder Pryce continued her encouraging form in the women’s 400m. In a close finish, she secured victory in 49.27 seconds, the same time credited to Salwa Eid Naser for second place, while national champion Stacey-Ann Williams was third in 49.92.

Ashanti Moore finished second in the women’s 200m in 22.47 seconds behind Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, who won in 22.03.

Ackera Nugent was third in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.75 seconds, behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who clocked 12.56, and Alysha Johnson of the United States, who finished second in 12.62.

Tyler Mason, the World Athletics Championships 110m hurdles bronze medallist, narrowly missed the podium after placing fourth in 13.30.

The United States dominated the event, with Bradley Franklin winning in 13.20, ahead of Cordell Tinch, who clocked 13.25, and Jamal Britt, 13.39.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Navasky Anderson finished 10th overall in the men’s 800m in 1:46.12.

It was also a productive day for Jamaican throwers, as Roje Stona, who is also set to compete in this weekend’s Diamond League final, finished second in the men’s discus at the World Continental Tour Silver meet at Galà dei Castelli in Bellinzona, Switzerland.

Stona threw 68.14m to finish behind Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna, who won with 71.50m.

Megan Simmonds placed second in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.54 seconds as Reyaniah Jones of the United States won in 12.44, with world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland third in 12.71.

High jumper Raymond Richards finished second after clearing 2.24m, while American Juvaughn Harrison won with a leap of 2.28m.

Sprinters Ackeem Blake and Lavanya Williams found the going tough, finishing down the field in their respective events. Blake was sixth in the men’s 100m in 10.12, while Williams placed eighth in the women’s 100m in 11.53.