There were victories for Tajay Gayle and Shanieka Ricketts at the XXXV Meeting Citta di Padova in Italy on Sunday.
In what was his best sequence of the season and perhaps his best in three years, Gayle, the 2019 world long jump champion had four jumps of eight metres or more while winning the long jump competition.
Gayle had marks of 8.11m, 8.20m, 8.26m, and 8.00m in the series any of which would have won him the contest.
Australia’s Darcy Roper jumped 7.99m for second place while the USA’s Marquis Dendy was third with 7.90m. Commonwealth Games champion Laquan Nairn of the Bahamas was out of the medals, finishing sixth with his best effort of 7.57m.
Ricketts, the second-best female triple jumper in the world, produced another strong series to win the triple jump ahead of Dominica’s Thea LaFond who came close to snatching victory.
Ricketts produced a strong series – 14.59m, 14.65m, her winning jump 14.72m, 14.70 and 14.57m – but LaFond’s best effort of 14.71m, put her within a centimetre of the Jamaican’s winning mark.
Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez’s best effort of 14.53m resulted in her taking the last podium spot.
Marie Josee Ta Lou smashed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s meet record of 10.98s set in 2015 when she ran 10.94 to win the second of two heats of the women’s blue-ribbon sprint ahead of the USA’s Twanisha Terry, who clocked 11.14.
Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison, who won the first heat in 11.22, was third overall beating out the USA’s ShaCarri Richardson was third in the second heat in 11.25 but fourth overall.
Meanwhile, the men’s 100m sprint was keenly contested with Aaron Brown of Canada taking victory in 10.12 over the USA’s Marvin Bracy (10.13). Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake in his first full season as a professional sprinter was third in 10.17.
Dalilah Mohammad won the 400m hurdles in a meet record of 53.84. Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight was second in 53.95 while Panama’s Gianna Woodruff finished third in 55.09.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Yohan Blake records season-best 10.16 in 100m at Raiffeisen Austrian Open, Christania Williams impresses in women's race
Double Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake demonstrated that he is far from finished at the 2024 Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt, Austria, on Wednesday, clocking a season-best 10.16 seconds in the 100m heats. However, the final did not go as planned for the Jamaican sprint star, as he was disqualified for a false start, negating his third-place finish time of 10.26 seconds.
The 34-year-old Blake's performance in the heats was a testament to his experience and competitive edge, as he comfortably advanced to the final with the fastest qualifying time. This season-best effort underscored Blake's determination to remain a formidable force in sprinting, even as he continues to navigate the later stages of his illustrious career.
In the final, Blake crossed the finish line third with a time of 10.26 seconds. However, his results were invalidated due to a false start that led to his disqualification. The disqualification came as a significant disappointment, especially after his promising performance in the heats.
Fellow Jamaican sprinter Christania Williams also impressed at the meet. Williams, who is based in Austria and trained by Coach Phillip Unfried, ran a strong race in the women's 100m, clocking an impressive 11.33 seconds. Her performance highlights her consistent progress and potential as she continues to train and compete in Europe.
The Raiffeisen Austrian Open served as a crucial platform for athletes like Blake and Williams to gauge their form and readiness as they prepare for upcoming national champions in just over a month’s time. Despite the setback in the final, Blake's season-best time in the heats remains a positive takeaway, indicating his capacity to compete at high levels.
For Williams, the meet was an opportunity to showcase her talent and the results of her training under Coach Unfried's guidance. Her time of 11.33 seconds is a solid mark as she aims to continue improving and achieving new personal bests.
Antiguan Greene set to make third Olympic Games appearance in Paris
Antigua and Barbuda’s top senior men’s sprinter, Cejhae Green, is set to make a third Olympic Games appearance, as he recently hit the men’s 100 metres qualifying mark of a flat 10.00 seconds while competing at the PURE Athletics Sprint Elite Meet in Florida, recently.
Greene, 28, who represented his country at the 2016 and 2020 Games in Rio and Tokyo respectively, has qualified for this summer's Paris Olympic Games scheduled for July 26 to August 11.
He achieved the feat when he placed second behind American Kendal Williams who registered a world leading time of 9.93 seconds. Greene's time of 10.00s, is the fourth fastest time this year, as he copped silver ahead of Puerto Rico's Eloy Benitez, who clocked a time of 10.04 seconds.
The Antiguan had previously clocked 10.16 seconds in the preliminary round.
Elaine Thompson-Herah set for explosive season debut against Sha'Carri Richardson at Prefontaine Classic
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, the fastest woman alive, is poised to make her highly anticipated season debut in the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, on May 25. This event promises to be a thrilling spectacle as Thompson-Herah faces off against reigning world champion ShaCarri Richardson.
Thompson-Herah's return to the Prefontaine Classic holds special significance. In August 2021, at this very meet, she clocked a blistering 10.54 seconds in the 100m, a performance that solidified her status as the fastest woman alive. Only Florence Griffith-Joyner's legendary world record of 10.49 seconds stands ahead of her on the all-time list.
The Prefontaine Classic will see Thompson-Herah and Richardson, two of the most electrifying sprinters in the world, go head-to-head. Richardson, who has already competed in two 200m races this season, will be running her first 100m of the year. This clash is eagerly awaited by athletics fans worldwide, as it brings together the fierce competition and star power of two dominant figures in women's sprinting.
Thompson-Herah's season opener at the Prefontaine Classic is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting year. She is scheduled to run her second 100m of the season at the Grenada Invitational on June 6, at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada. This continuous competition will help her build momentum as she eyes further successes and potentially more record-breaking performances.
The Eugene meet is set to be a highlight of the Diamond League series, with Thompson-Herah's participation adding to the event's prestige. Her remarkable career, highlighted by her Olympic triumphs and her record-setting performances, continues to inspire and captivate the athletics world. As she lines up against ShaCarri Richardson, all eyes will be on this epic showdown, anticipating another memorable chapter in the storied careers of these two sprinting superstars.
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