Danielle Thomas-Dodd in action at the Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway on Thursday.
AFP
While Norwegian standouts Karsten Warholm and Jakob Ingebrigtsen shone on home soil at the Oslo Diamond League, Jamaica’s athletes had somewhat of an off day, with Rushell Clayton’s second-place finish in the women’s 400m hurdles, being the best of the lot, at the Bislett Stadium on Thursday.
Warholm, clocked the fourth fastest 400m hurdles time in history, as he won in 46.52 seconds, after which his compatriot Ingebrigtsen, established a European men's 1,500m record of three minutes 27.95 seconds, much to the delight of the 15,000 supporters that turned out for the fifth stop on the Wanda Diamond League series.
Just before that, Jamaica’s in-form sprinter, Shericka Jackson, the third-fastest woman in the 100m this year at 10.78s, was beaten into third by Ivory Coast’s Marie Josee Ta Lou, in an event that wasn’t as close as was anticipated.
Ta Lou, who was the second-fastest athlete this year coming into the event, was comfortable in victory, as she clocked a meet record and world leading 10.75s in a positive 0.9 metres per second wind reading. She bettered the longstanding meet record of 10.82s set by Marion Jones in 1998, and the previous world lead of 10.76s set by American Sha’Carri Richardson, last month.
Bahamas Anthonique Strachan was second in a personal best 10.9s, while Jackson (10.98s) recovered from a slow start to take third ahead of the British pair of Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, who were also clocked at 10.98s.
Clayton earlier ran a brave race for second in a season’s best 53.84s, behind impressive Dutchwoman, Femke Bol, who also clocked a meet record and world leading 52.30s for the 400m hurdles. Incidentally, the previous meet record of 52.61s was set by Bol last year, along with the previous world lead of 52.43s, which she clocked earlier this month.
Panama’s Gianna Woodruff, also with a season’s best 54.46, was third ahead of the other Jamaican Janieve Russell (54.91s). Russell’s time was also a season’s best.
Jamaica’s national record holder Danniel Thomas-Dodd placed third in the women’s shot put event with a mark of 19.44m, which came on her second attempt. She finished behind Canadian Sara Mitton, who won with a throw of 19.54m, while American world leader, Maggie Ewan was second with 19.52m.
World Championships silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts was fourth in the women’s triple jump, after only managing a best of 14.33m, with Thea Lafond of Dominica, finishing fifth with a best leap of 14.21.
World and Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas, topped the event after cutting the sand at 14.91m, just shy of her world lead of 14.96. The Venezuelan won ahead of Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez, with a personal best 14.87m and Ukraine’s Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, who also achieved a season’s best 14.75m.
Another Jamaican Kimberly Williams did not start.
Former World Champion Tajay Gayle placed sixth on his Diamond League debut in the men’s long jump. Gayle’s best mark was 7.87m, as Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer (8.32m), American Marquis Dendy (8.26m) and Miltiadis Tentoglou (8.21m) of Greece, took the top three spots.
South African Wayde Van Niekerk continues to round into form, as he topped the men’s 400m in 44.38s, ahead of Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga (44.49s) and American Vernon Norwood, who clocked a season’s best 44.51s.
Meanwhile, there were also meet records for 19-year-old American Erriyon Knighton, who won the men's 200m in 19.77s to beat the mark previously held by sprint legend Usain Bolt.
Kenya's Beatrice Chebet won the women’s 3,000m in a world-leading 8:25.01, while a brilliant men's 5,000m race went down to the wire with Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha awarded victory over Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo in the fifth-fastest time in history (12:41:73).
Swedish star Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis took victory in the men's pole vault where he was the only athlete to clear 6.01 metres.
The next Diamond League event takes place in Lausanne, Switzerland on 30 June.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Haaland endures Austria thrashing as Norway captain
Erling Haaland endured a miserable outing as Norway captain, with his goal-scoring exploits powerless in his side's 5-1 defeat to Austria in their Nations League encounter.
Haaland, standing in for injured skipper Martin Odegaard, watched on as his side suffered a second-half collapse at the Raiffeisen Arena.
The Manchester City striker became his nation's all-time top scorer with a brace in their 3-0 win over Slovenia, taking his total to 34 goals in 36 games, and threatened to add to that tally when he struck the post in the sixth minute.
However, a dominant start by the hosts was rewarded when Marko Arnautovic thundered his side in front in the eighth minute with a fierce effort off the crossbar.
However, Norway found themselves level six minutes before half-time when Alexander Sorloth headed Julian Ryerson's free-kick beyond the on-rushing Patrick Pentz.
Andreas Hanche-Olsen's foul on Christoph Baumgartner inside the box proved to be the beginning of the end for Norway, with Arnautovic stepping up to score the resulting penalty.
Austria increased their lead soon after through Philipp Lienhart's header, with Stefan Posch nodding the hosts 4-1 in front after being picked out at the back post by Marcel Sabitzer.
The rout was complete in the 71st minute, with Sabitzer again the architect, teeing up Michael Gregoritsch with yet another header to send Austria joint-top of Group B3.
Haaland becomes Norway's record scorer with Slovenia brace
Erling Haaland became Norway's all-time leading scorer with a brace in their 3-0 victory over Slovenia.
The Manchester City striker was captaining his first nation for the first time, and marked the occasion in trademark record-breaking fashion.
Haaland broke the deadlock after just seven minutes of the Nations League clash at the Ullevaal Stadium, where Alexander Sorloth doubled the lead seven minutes after the restart.
Sorloth then turned provider just after the hour mark for Haaland, who broke Jorgen Juve's 87-year record with his 34th international goal in just 36 caps.
The result put Norway firmly in charge of Group B3 with seven points, three ahead of Austria and Slovenia, with Kazakhstan propping up the table on one point.
Solskjaer 'would say yes every day of the week' to Man Utd return
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be open to returning to Manchester United as manager, admitting he "would say yes every day of the week" if the possibility arose.
Solskjaer was dismissed by the Red Devils in November 2021 after just under three years in charge at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian, who initially replaced Jose Mourinho on an interim basis in December 2018, led United to a second-place Premier League finish in the 2020-21 season, but a run of six defeats in 11 matches culminated in his departure.
Erik ten Hag - the man who permanently succeeded him at Old Trafford - has come under increasing pressure following a difficult start to this term, which has brought just three wins from the Red Devils' opening eight games.
And Solskjaer, who has worked as a technical observer for UEFA since leaving the club, refused to rule out a second stint in charge if called upon.
"If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week," he said during a Q&A at the Oslo Business Forum.
"It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course."
With Norway coach Stale Solbakken expected to step down at the end of their 2026 World Cup campaign, Solskjaer admitted he would also be tempted by the opportunity to take charge of his nation.
"I am a proud Norwegian," he added. "Of course, if the question arises - when Stale decides to give up - I will happily engage in discussions."
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