No winners from Jamaica on opening day of Diamond League finals

OLYMPIC GAMES bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell delivered the best performance by a Jamaican on yesterday’s opening day of the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League finals in Switzerland, finishing third in the men’s shot put.

Campbell moved into third place on his second attempt with a throw of 21.87 metres and held that position to the end. Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs, who had finished a disappointing fourth at the US National Championships, returned to form with a 22.46-metre throw that was good enough to take victory. His US teammate, Payton Otterdahl, was second with 22.07.

Despite winning, Kovacs failed to book a wild card entry to Tokyo, as his countryman Ryan Crouser is the defending champion, and all three finishers ahead of him at their Championships have attained the automatic qualifying standard.

Wayne Pinnock, Olympic Games long jump silver medallist, was the best-placed Jamaican in the men’s long jump, finishing fourth with 8.15 metres. National champion Carey McLeod followed in fifth with 8.07. World Championships bronze medallist Simon Ehammer of Switzerland won with 8.32 on his second attempt. Italy’s Mattia Furlani, the Olympic bronze medallist, was second with 8.30, while Australia’s Liam Adcock took third with 8.24. Olympic champion and world leader Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece struggled, ending sixth and last with a disappointing 7.66.

Yesterday’s programme featured six field event finals. The women’s pole vault, originally scheduled for today, was brought forward due to expected bad weather today. In what was the opening final, the United States swept the podium: Katie Moon (4.82m), Sandi Morris (4.75m), and Emily Grove (4.75m).

Armand Duplantis of Sweden maintained his unbeaten streak in the men’s pole vault, clearing 6.00 metres. Emmanouil Karalis of Greece also cleared 6.00 but had to settle for second, while Sam Kendricks of the US was third with 5.80.

In the other final, Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers won the women’s high jump with 2.04 metres, and Canada’s Sarah Mitton claimed the women’s shot put title with 20.67m.

Ten Jamaicans – four in the field and six on the track – will compete on today’s second and final day.

All eyes will be on Tia Clayton in the women’s 100m final at 1:02 p.m. She will be aiming for victory to secure a wild card entry to next month’s World Championships.

Clayton, who has a personal best of 10.82 seconds done at the Silesia Diamond League, returned to competition after seven weeks out with a hamstring injury. She faces a strong field which includes world number two Julien Alfred of St Lucia (10.76s season’s best), American Jacious Sears (10.85), and veteran Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith of Côte d’Ivoire (10.87).

Romaine Beckford will be the first Jamaican in action today in the men’s high jump at 10:53 a.m. He will be followed by Jordan Scott and Shanieka Ricketts in the men’s and women’s triple jump finals at 11:19 a.m. Olympic champion Roje Stona will also be in action.

On the track, Danielle Williams and Ackera Nugent line up in the women’s 100m hurdles final at 12:08 p.m., while Orlando Bennett goes in the men’s 110m hurdles at 12:34 p.m. Ackeem Blake will close out Jamaica’s participation when he contests the men’s 100m final at 1:27 p.m.