Glorious final day for Jamaicans in Eugene

IT WAS A glorious final day yesterday for Jamaicans at the Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, with Shericka Jackson and Hansle Parchment leading the way with wins to walk away with Diamond trophies while there were top-three finishes for Rushell Clayton, Natoya Goule-Toppin, and Tajay Gayle.

Jackson completed the sprint double. She followed up her 100 metres win on Saturday to take the 200m easily in a meet record 21.57 seconds. Marie Josee Ta Lou of Cote d’Ivoire was second on 22.10, with third going to Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas in a season’s best 22.16.

Jackson was extremely pleased with her overall performance at the meet.

“Funny enough, last year, one of my goals I wrote was to get two trophies. I did not get two then, but I rewrote that again that I wanted two trophies this year, and I got both, and I am grateful. It’s the end of the season. I’m healthy, and I ran some fast times, so I am definitely grateful,” she said.

Olympic gold medallist and World Championships 110m hurdles silver medallist Parchment produced a personal best and world-leading 12.93 seconds to win his first Diamond League trophy. Parchment got the better of world and defending champion Grant Holloway of the United States for the second consecutive Diamond League meet after defeating him at the recent Xiamen Diamond League meet.

EXCELLENT TOP-END SPEED

Parchment was slowly away, but he again showed his excellent top-end speed to win the event. Holloway was second in 13.06, and his American teammate, Daniel Roberts, was third in 13.07.

Parchment spoke about his race execution after his win.

“The start wasn’t perfect. I was really thinking a lot about getting a better start to really be a little more competitive. I think I still put it together. Getting the win and a PR (personal record) I am very happy,” said Parchment.

Goule-Toppin turned up in her best form in the women’s 800 metres final and finished third in a national record 1: 55.96. In what was a quality race the top three finishers all produced national records. American Athing Mu made up for her third-place finish in Budapest to win the event in 1:54.97. Like she did in Budapest, Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain was second in 1:55.96.

World Championships bronze medallist Tajay Gayle picked up a second-place finish in the men’s long jump with a mark of 8.22 metres, the same distance as the winner, Simon Ehammer of Switzerland. However, on the countback, Ehammer’s second-best effort gave him the verdict over the Jamaican.

Clayton was again third in the women’s 400m hurdles as the top three at the World Championships maintained their positions. Femke Bol of the Netherlands won in a meet record 51.98 seconds ahead of American Shamier Little, 53.45. Clayton was third in 53.56, and Janieve Russell took fourth in a season’s best 53.60.

Danielle Williams and Candice McLeod were fourth in their events.

World Championships gold medallist Williams clocked 12.47 seconds to edge out countrywoman Megan Tapper, fifth in 12.48, in the women’s 100m hurdles. Defending champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria won the event in a season’s best 12.33.

World Championships finalist McLeod clocked 50.76 seconds in the women’s 400m to finish behind World Championships gold medallist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominica Republic, who won in 49.58, Natalia Keczmarek of Poland who was second in 50.38 and Lieke Klever of the Netherlands, third in in 50.47.

The day was highlighted by two world record performances. Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia stopped the clock at 14:00.21 to win the women’s 5000m, ahead of Beatrice Cherbet of Kenya, who was second in a personal best 14:05.92.

World Championships gold medallist Armand Duplantis of Sweden continued his impressive form in the pole vault with a new world mark of 6.23m.