Dominica’s Thea LaFond and Jamaica’s Omar McLeod were among the standout Caribbean athletes at the 14th Savona International Meeting held on Wednesday at the Centro Sportivo Fontanassa in Italy, with both Olympians delivering strong performances in their respective events.
LaFond, the reigning Olympic triple jump champion, continued her stellar 2025 campaign by dominating the women’s triple jump. She soared to a winning mark of 14.31m (+0.3), comfortably ahead of Italy’s Erika Saraceni (14.01m) and Romania’s Elena Talos (13.95m). The result reinforces LaFond’s position as one of the premier jumpers in the world heading into this summer’s World Championships in Paris.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, 2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod signalled a resurgence in form with a sharp 13.25s (+2.6) performance to take second place behind Italy’s Lorenzo Simonelli, who edged him at the line with 13.24s. McLeod, who has struggled with consistency over the past few seasons, looked more like his old self, and the result suggests he could be turning a corner as the major championships approach.
Cuba’s Reynier Mena claimed top honours in the men’s 200m, powering to a season’s best 20.15 to finish comfortably ahead of France’s Ryan Zeze (20.50) and Italy’s Andrea Federici (20.76). Mena’s win underlined Cuba’s continued strength in the short sprints.
Puerto Rico’s Gabby Scott produced one of the day’s most commanding performances, winning the women’s 400m in 51.57. She held off Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley (52.00) and Italy’s Alessandra Bonora (52.86) with a well-timed surge over the final 100m, maintaining her status as one of the region’s most consistent quarter-milers.
Barbadian star Jonathan Jones placed fourth in the men’s 400m in 46.45. Belgium’s Daniel Segers took the win in 45.28, ahead of Germany’s Jean Paul Bredau (45.59) and Great Britain’s Samuel Reardon (45.99). Jones, a regular on the Diamond League circuit, continues to fine-tune his form as the season progresses.
With wins, podium finishes, and signs of resurgence, Caribbean athletes made a strong impression in Savona, showcasing the region’s continued impact across multiple disciplines on the international track and field circuit.