In a significant announcement ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Jamaica Olympic Association revealed that sprinting legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and diver Yona Knight-Wisdom will serve as the team captains for Jamaica's Olympic squad. The Games, set to commence in a week's time, will see these distinguished athletes leading their compatriots as they aim for glory on the world stage.

Fraser-Pryce, a decorated sprinter and one of the most recognizable figures in track and field, will be competing in her fifth Olympic Games. The 37-year-old has an illustrious history, having been the first Jamaica woman to win the Olympic 100m gold medal in 2008, a feat she repeated in 2012. She also claimed bronze in the 100m at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games, solidifying her status as one of the all-time greats in her sport. Fraser-Pryce now sets her sights on an unprecedented fifth consecutive Olympic 100m medal, a testament to her enduring excellence.

Joining Fraser-Pryce as a leader is Yona Knight-Wisdom, who made history by becoming the first male diver to represent Jamaica at the Olympics during the 2016 Rio Games. The 29-year-old also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games, which took place in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Knight-Wisdom's pioneering spirit and dedication have paved the way for future generations of Jamaican divers.

In addition to the captains, the Jamaica Olympic Association has announced that veteran triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts and British-born swimmer Josh Kirlew will have the honour of being flag bearers at the opening ceremony on July 26.

Ricketts, a two-time world championship silver medalist, narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal with a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Games. She is determined to clinch her first Olympic medal in Paris.

Kirlew, a 24-year-old swimmer, will be making his Olympic debut in Paris. As a rising star in Jamaican swimming, he represents the next generation of athletes poised to make their mark on the global stage.

St Lucia's sprint sensation, Julien Alfred, delivered a powerful performance at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday, solidifying her status as a top contender for the 100m medals at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Alfred clinched victory in the women's 100m with an impressive time of 10.85 seconds, finishing ahead of Tamari Davis and Dina Asher-Smith, who both clocked 10.99 seconds.

 Reflecting on her race, Alfred shared, "I was specially prepared today not to make a mistake and to just focus on myself and my own race. I felt great during the race but now my legs hurt a bit because I did a heavy training. Of course, I cannot complain right now, as I am taking home the Diamond League win. I am getting better with each race, I run more relaxed as well. I feel confident. I know that all I need to do is to trust my coach and to trust myself. The coach knows what is best for me. I really love this Monaco crowd and the introduction of the event with the lights. I will get back to practice and just focus for my preparations for Paris."

 Alfred's victory is a clear indication of her growing form and confidence as she heads towards the Olympic Games. Her ability to perform under pressure and continue improving with each race makes her a strong contender for the podium in Paris.

 Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez emerged victorious in the women's triple jump with a leap of 14.96m. She edged out Dominica's Thea LaFond, who jumped 14.87m, and Ukraine's Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, who recorded 14.81m. Notably, Jamaican athletes Shanieka Ricketts and Ackelia Smith finished fourth and fifth with jumps of 14.67m and 14.30m, respectively.

 Botswana's Letsile Tebogo dominated the men's 200m, winning in 19.87 seconds. Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic finished second in 20.02 seconds, while Uganda's Gracious Tarsis Orogot took third in 20.32 seconds. Matthew Hudson placed fourth with a time of 20.43 seconds.

 In an epic showdown in the men's 400m hurdles, USA's Rai Benjamin triumphed over Olympic champion Karsten Warholm, clocking a blazing 46.67 seconds. Warholm finished a close second in 46.73 seconds, with Brazil's Alison dos Santos taking third in 47.18 seconds. Jamaica's Malik James-King also impressed, running a fast 47.73 seconds despite hitting hurdles nine and 10, which slowed his momentum.

 USA's Quincy Hall delivered a world-leading and lifetime best performance in the men's 400m, winning in a commanding 43.80 seconds. Fellow American Vernon Norwood finished second with a season's best 44.34 seconds, while South Africa's Lythe Pillay took third in 44.58 seconds.

 Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland was a dominant winner in the women's 400m, clocking 49.17 seconds. Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands finished second with a lifetime best of 49.64 seconds, and Kendall Ellis of the USA took third in 50.39 seconds.

 The Monaco Diamond League meeting showcased some of the world's best athletic talents, setting the stage for an exciting build-up to the Olympic Games in Paris. With performances like Julien Alfred's and others, the anticipation for the upcoming Olympics continues to grow.

On the brink of securing an Olympic berth in the historic city of Paris, Jamaica’s 2024 Men’s National 200m champion, Bryan Levell, has reached out to the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) for support. The JOA responded with a substantial investment of JMD$1,000,000.00 to aid his preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Levell, an Edwin Allen High graduate and a decorated Champs, Carifta, and Under-20 World Championship medalist, recently made a significant impact at the National Senior and Junior Championships where he ran a lifetime best of 9.97 in the 100m and won the national 200m title in another lifetime best of 19.97.

His remarkable performance cemented his status on the big stage and garnered the attention and support of the JOA.

In acknowledging the support, Levell expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am very proud to be the first recipient of the award, which will be very beneficial with me not having any support. By giving me this award, the JOA is supporting my dreams and aspirations."

The JOA’s swift and affirmative response to Levell’s request was anticipated. "Excellence and merit cannot be purchased; they are earned by giving it your all and do not subscribe to a ‘buy one, get one free’ mentality. It is this philosophy, this conviction, that drove the JOA to answer the call of Bryan and his team for support," stated JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster.

Foster emphasized the significance of this partnership, describing it as "more than a smile and talk; it is a handshake that acknowledges excellence, empathizes with a need, and shares in an Olympic dream that has become a reality. It is a firm handshake of mutuality that says we’re in this together in realizing Bryan’s aspirations and for Jamaica’s glory."

Levell’s manager, Damia Russell, praised Levell’s resilience and determination in the face of having "zero sponsorship." She stated, "Bryan intends to advocate and show other young boys and girls that dreams do come true and hard work works."

The JOA’s commitment to supporting athletes is further reflected in their view that "making your mark is not time-bound or dependent on a condition that you must know your place until someone gives you space. It is grasping the moment in time, creating your space, and owning a place in history, which Bryan is doing," emphasized Foster.

The JOA's President, Christopher Samuda, added, "We have a social contract with our sportsmen and women who are our business, livelihood, and lifeblood. We are delivering opportunities on a level playing field, and with this financial investment, we are levelling the vibes for Bryan now so that he can ‘tun up di vibes’ as he pursues his athletic career and academic goals."

In a historic move in 2021, the JOA inaugurated and invested millions of dollars in its own coaches’ scholarship program, complementing the existing Olympic solidarity scholarships for athletes. At the official launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in May, the governing body announced increased financial support to other athletes, including Malik James-King, Samantha Hall, Shanieka Ricketts, and Nayoka Clunis, all of whom have earned a place on Jamaica’s track and field team for the Olympic Games.

The JOA’s "Young Olympic Changemakers" award serves as an Olympic appetizer for young athletes who thirst and hunger for, and indeed achieve, excellence. Bryan Levell's journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to this commitment.

 Shanieka Ricketts and Traves Smikle delivered stellar performances on day three of the Jamaica National Championships in Kingston on Saturday, each clinching their respective events in style.

Ricketts, a seasoned triple jumper, secured her sixth national title with a leap of 14.50m at the National Stadium. The 32-year-old, who boasts a lifetime best of 15.03m, dominated the competition, underscoring her status as one of Jamaica's premier athletes.

NCAA champion Ackelia Smith pushed Ricketts closely, finishing second with a commendable effort of 14.44m, while Imani Oliver claimed third place with a jump of 13.69m.

In the men’s discus, Traves Smikle also captured his sixth national title with a commanding throw of 67.08m. The 32-year-old's performance secured a clear victory over Roje Stona, who managed a best effort of 65.29m. Ralford Mullings completed the podium with a throw of 64.92m.

National 110m hurdles record holder Omar McLeod continued his resurgence this season with a winning effort at the Paavo Nurmi Games, a Word Athletics Continental Tour-Gold event in Turku, Finland on Tuesday.

The 2016 Olympic and 2017 World champion produced a season’s best 13.25 to win the final of the men’s sprint hurdles ahead of Belgium’s Elie Bacari (13.38) and Finland’s Elmo Lakka (13.43).

The 30-year-old earlier ran 13.29 to advance fastest from the heats.

The women’s sprint hurdles saw World Championships silver medallist Britany Anderson produce a season’s best 12.87 for sixth in the final after running 12.93 earlier in the heats.

The final was won by American World champion Nia Ali in 12.48 just ahead of Dutchwoman Nadine Visser (12.51). Ireland’s Sarah Lavin was third in 12.66.

This was McLeod’s third win in four events this season, with his previous two coming in Italy on May 15 and 19 with times of 13.37 and 13.47 at the Savona International Meeting and Lucca International Meeting, respectively.

Elsewhere, two-time World Championships triple jump silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts took the win in the women’s triple jump with a best jump of 14.17m coming in the first round of the competition.

Italy’s Dariya Derkach was second with 14.08m while Sweden’s Maja Askag was third with 14.06m.

Two-time World champion Anderson Peters threw 82.58m for fourth in the javelin throw behind India’s Neeraj Chopra (85.97m) and the Finnish pair of Toni Keranen (84.19m) and Oliver Helander (83.96m).

After a sub-par showing on last, reigning World 200m champion Shericka Jackson will definitely be hoping to make the Stockholm Diamond League meet a memorable one on Sunday.

The 29 year-old Jamaican sprinter has gone faster than anyone over 200m except 1988 Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner.

However, a fifth place at the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday raised questions about Jackson’s fitness ahead of this Summer’s Paris Olympic Games. Still, Jackson is as determined as athletes come and she will no doubt look to assuage concerns with a speedy time in Stockholm.

On the other hand, American Brittany Brown will look to rattle her confidence once more. Brown scored an upset victory with a time of 22.32 seconds in Oslo. The result has vaulted the American sprinter into the Olympic selection conversation ahead of their Olympic Team Trials in late June.

Brown is slated to run both the 100m and 200m in Stockholm. Gambia’s Gina Bass, Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith and Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison will also line up in the 100m, while Jackson and fellow Americans Anavia Battle and Jenna Prandini will be Brown’s biggest rivals in the 200m.

Jamaica’s Ryiem Forde Forde will have his hands full in the men’s 100m, as he faces Japanese Hakim Sani Brown, the runner-up in Oslo, Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon, and American Kyree King.

Rushell Clayton's rich vein of form to be tested by Femke Bol.

Another highly anticipated women’s track event is the 400m hurdles, where in-form Jamaican Rushell Clayton will lock horns with Dutch world champion Femke Bol, who will make her season debut in the event at Stockholm’s Olympic stadium.

Clayton has grown from strength to strength since copping bronze at last year’s World Championships. She secured victories in Oslo on Thursday, and prior to that, won in Rabat, as well as at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet, where she clocked a season’s best 53.72s. She will again be joined by compatriots Andrenette Knight and Janieve Russell, who were a part of the Jamaican sweep of the podium at the in Oslo, with World champion Bol now joining the party.

World Championships silver medallist Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands is expected to be one of the toughest rivals for Alison Dos Santos of Brazil in the men’s 400m hurdles.

But McMaster will have much to do, as Dos Santos has been holding superb form and is undefeated in the event. Dos Santos has won both of his races on the Diamond League circuit this year in impressive times, the most recent being a season’s best 46.63s-clocking in Oslo.

Meanwhile, the women’s triple jump seems headed to be a Caribbean affair with world indoor champion Thea Lafond of Dominica, two-time World Championships silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica, and world indoor silver medallist, Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba again set to battle for the podium spots. Another Jamaican Kimberley Williams will be aiming to improve on her recent performances.

Elsewhere in the field, Fedrick Dacres and Danniel Thomas-Dodd will also be hoping to improve their form in the men’s discus and women’s shot put respectively.

The much-anticipated season openers for St Lucia’s Julien Alfred and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, turned in contrasting results as both were left in the wake of American Sha’Carri Richardson at the end of the women’s 100m at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classics in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.

Given the quality nature of the field, the event was expected to prove a close affair, but no real clash materialized as Richardson, the reigning World champion, opened her 100m account in impressive fashion with a brisk 10.83 seconds.

Alfred, the World Indoor 60m champion, placed second in 10.93s as she utilised her quick start to good effect and led for most of the way, before being caught by Richardson, while Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (10.98s), who was also opening her account in the event, placed third.

Meanwhile, Thompson-Herah, the double Olympic champion, is still yet to rekindle her outstanding form of old, as she got up well from lane four, but quickly faded to the back of the field in 11.30s.

American Christian Coleman also won the men’s 100m in a season’s best 9.95s, with runner-up Ferdinand Omanyala (9.98s), also clocking a season’s best. Another American Brandon Hicklin (10.08s) was third. Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (10.12s) and Sandrey Davison with a personal best 10.13s, were fourth and fifth, while British Virgin Islands’ Rikkoi Brathwaite (10.19s) was sixth.

In the field, Cuba’s World Indoor silver medallist Leyanis Perez Hernandez, topped the women’s triple jump event, as her 14.73m first effort was not to be denied. Try as they did, Dominica’s World Indoor champion and current world number one Thea Lafond (14.62m), and Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts, with a season’s best 14.55m, had to settle for the runners-up positions.

Another Jamaica Kimberly Williams (13.74m) was seventh.

Elsewhere on the track, the men’s 200m was won by current world leader Kenny Bednarek, who continued his rich early season form to again lead an American sweep. Bednarek won in 19.89s, ahead of Courtney Lindsey (20.09s) and Kyree King (20.15s).

Caribbean athletes Alexander Ogando (20.27s) of Dominican Republic and Ian Kerr (20.87s) of Bahamas, finished fifth and ninth respectively.

Grant Holloway also continued his good knick with another world lead performance of 13.03s to win the men’s 110m hurdles, which was also swept by the Americans. Daniel Roberts (13.13s) and Freddie Crittenden (13.16s) were second and third, while Jamaica’s Olympic champion Hansle Parchment (13.28s) recovered from a horrible start to finish fourth.

The women’s event was won by Frenchwoman Cyrena Samba-Mayela, who equalled her National Record of 12.52s. Her training partner Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.54s) of Puerto Rico and American Tonea Marshall (12.55s). Bahamian World Indoor champion Devynne Charlton (12.63s) and Jamaica’s World champion Danielle Williams (12.65s), were fourth and sixth respectively.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Jamaica’s World Championship finalist Roshawn Clarke battled bravely before fading into fourth in 49.07, with compatriots Malik James-King (49.51s) and Jaheel Hyde (49.83s), were fifth and seventh respectively. The event was won by fast-finishing Costa Rican Gerald Drummond (48.56s), ahead of Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.85s) with American CJ Allen (48.99s), in third.

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson timed her run to perfection and clocked a new World leading 1:55.78 to win the women's 800m, ahead of Kenya's Mary Moraa, who clocked a season's best 1:56.71, while third-placed Jemma Reekie, also clocked a season's best 1:57.45. Jamaica's Natoya Goule-Toppin was ninth in 1:59.92.

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts provided her home fans with a solid performance to win the women’s triple jump at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.

The two-time World Championships silver medallist produced a best jump of 14.50m on her first attempt that proved to be enough to win in the end.

American Jasmine Moore had a best jump of 14.28m for second while Dominican World Indoor Champion Thea Lafond jumped 14.22m in the sixth and final round to clinch third.

“I feel exceptional. I usually get started with my season much earlier but this year we decided to get a few things corrected before coming into competition,” Ricketts said following the competition.

“Competing with world class athletes who have been doing well indoors as well really pushed me and gave me a good implication of where I’m at this season,” she added.

The 2022 Commonwealth Champion also spoke on competing in Jamaica.

“It’s always a pleasure to compete in Kingston. Usually, I try to do a meet here before going overseas to compete in the Diamond League. The crowd has warmed up to the jumps because of how well I’ve been doing overseas over the years. I’m always grateful for the support,” she said.

The excitement is building for the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational (JAI), set to take place at Kingston's National Stadium on May 11, 2024, with a stellar line-up of track and field stars ready to dazzle the crowds.

Among the highly anticipated events is the men's 110m hurdles, featuring Olympic champion Hansle Parchment and Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell. They will be joined by standout American hurdler Daniel Roberts, promising a thrilling battle over the barriers.

In addition to the hurdles spectacle, the sprint events will showcase talents such as recently crowned World Indoor 60m champion Julien Alfred, making her return to Jamaica after her high school years. Joining her are international sensations like Great Britain's Dina Asher Smith and two-time world champion Abby Steiner, ensuring top-class competition on the track.

The men’s sprints is promising to equally captivating with Zharnel Hughes, Marvin Bracy, Trayvon Brommel, Abdul Hakim Sani-Brown and Fred Kerley confirmed for the meet.

The 400m races will see world championship gold medalist Alexis Holmes taking on Jamaican quarter-milers Charokee Young and Stacey-Ann Williams in the one-lap sprint, while Commonwealth Games medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith leads the men's charge.

Two-time world championship 400m hurdles bronze medallist Rushell Clayton will go to head to head with the outstanding Shamier Little while Pan American champion Jaheel Hyde will take on World Championship bronze medalist Kyron McMaster over the 400m hurdles.

Field events will be equally captivating, with Jamaican prodigy Jaydon Hibbert and Donald Scott confirmed for the triple jump. Two-time world championship silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts will clash with 2024 World Indoor Champion Thea Lafond of Dominica in the women's event.

Fedrick Dacres, the 2019 World Championship silver medalist, will add excitement to the men's discus event.

Ludlow Watts, chairman of the local organizing committee, emphasized the significance of the JAI in showcasing international talent in Jamaica. 

“Those who might have thought that the days of staging of international events by the JAAA are over you will now know we jus’ a come,” said Ludlow Watts, who is chairman of the local organizing committee. “JAI will feature 14 international events; 10 running events and four field events. The international segment will be held between 7:30 and 9:30 pm. There will also be a developmental segment between 6 and 6:30 pm. That segment is to provide opportunity for those who did not get into the main event.

"We want every Jamaican to be in the stadium. We would like a full cheering stadium."

Ticket prices have been designed to ensure that the National Stadium will be filled to capacity for the meet. As such finish-line tickets for the Grand Stand will be sold for JMD$3000 with seats in all other sections of the stand fetching a price of JMD$2500. The Bleacher seats will be free.

Tickets for the event will be available online from April 22 to May 4 and can be purchased at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston and the National Stadium Ticket Office from May 8 to 11.

Shanieka Ricketts was once again in personal best shape but it wasn’t enough to prevent Venezuelan World and Olympic Champion and world record holder, Yulimar Rojas, from claiming a third straight Diamond League trophy at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday.

Ricketts produced an excellent series with distances of 14.69m, 14.79m and 14.69m in the first, second and fourth rounds before going out to 15.00m in her fifth-round effort. The 2019 World Championship silver medallist then produced a personal best 15.03m in the sixth and final round.

Rojas had fouls in her first two attempts before going out to 14.53m in her third round. After another foul in the fourth round, the superstar produced a world leading and meet record 15.35m in the fifth to secure victory.

Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams produced her best series of the season in third. Her best distance of 14.61m was her best jump since 2021. Her full series was as follows: 14.37m, 14.50m, 14.61m, 14.31m, 14.56m and 14.45m.

Coming off a lifetime best jump at last Friday’s Diamond League meeting in Brussels, Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts found the going much easier at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb on Sunday.

The two-time World Championship silver medalist produced a lifetime best of 15.01m in Brussels but needed only 14.53m for victory in Croatia.

Ricketts was almost a half-metre better than Italy’s Dariya Derkach, whose best jump of 14.07m earned her second place. Ricketts’ Jamaican compatriot Kimberly Williams, who has struggled to jump 14m for most of the season, could only manage a 13.70m effort which was good enough for her to finish third.

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts registered a new lifetime best of 15.01 metres to win the women’s triple jump, while Dominica’s Thea Lafond was third at the Diamond League meet in Brussels on Friday.

With World Champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela absent, silver medallist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine and Ricketts were both heavily favoured to battle for top spot on this occasion and the manner in which they started, justified that much.

Both cut the sand at 14.30m on their first attempts, but Ricketts improved to 14.70m on her second attempt in a negative 0.2 metres per second wind reading, while Bekh-Romanchuk failed to register a mark.

Ricketts maintained her rhythm in the series and with it came the big personal best of 15.01m on her third attempt, as she bettered her previous best of 14.98m which was set in Doha in 2021.

Though she skipped the fourth and fifth attempts and fouled on the sixth and final jump, the 31-year-old Ricketts, who was fourth at the World Championships in Hungary, had done enough to top the podium, as Bekh-Romanchuk’s next best efforts of 14.56m and 14.57m, came on her last two attempts.

Lafond’s best effort of 14.49m which came on her third attempt, secured her the third-place finish, while Kimberly Williams, the other Jamaican in the event, placed fifth with a best mark of 13.96m.

As the 2023 track and field season draws near to a close, Caribbean athletes continued to showcase their excellence at the in Europe where sprinters Natasha Morrison and Oblique Seville emerged victorious in the 100m dash while Rusheen McDonald topped the podium in the 400m dash at the 2023 Palio Citta' della Quercia Rovereto in Italy on Wednesday.

During the entertaining meet, Shanieka Ricketts also produced a near-season-best effort to win the women’s triple jump over fellow Caribbean star Thea LaFond.

Morrison, a member of Jamaica’s silver medal winning 4x100m relay at the recent World Athletics Championships in Budapest, won a closely contested 100m dash in a new meet record of 11.00. She managed to outlast Americans Twanisha Terry, who clocked in at 11.06 for second place with Gina Bass of Gambia close behind in 11.08.

Briana Williams was fifth in 11.22.

Seville won the men’s equivalent in 10 seconds flat over Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who ran 10.15. Mouhamadou Fall of France was a close third in 10.22. Michael Campbell finished fourth in 10.29 with Jamaican champion Rohan Watson farther back in seventh in a time of 10.45.

Rusheen McDonald, the fastest Jamaica in the 400m this year at 44.03, won the 400m in a close finish with Germany’s Manuel Sanders. The Jamaican ran 45.46 while just managing to hold off the German, who a metre behind in 45.53.

South Africa’s Zakithi Nene was not far behind in third in 45.69.

The women’s triple jump featured Ricketts and LaFond, who produced season bests 14.93 and 14.90 for were fourth and fifth, respectively, at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. They went at it again in Rovereto with the Jamaican once again coming out ahead.

She produced a jump of 14.92m to take victory with the Dominican darling finishing second with a 14.67m effort.

The two women were miles ahead of the rest of the field as Dovile Kilty finished third with a season-best 14.04m.

Amoi Brown ran 12.85 to finish second in the 100m hurdles. Ireland’s Sarah Lavin claimed victory in 12.76 with Taliyah Brooks of the USA taking third in 12.91.

As has become the norm in recent years, Yulimar Rojas dominated the triple jump competition as the Diamond League season resumed in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday.

Fresh off her triumph at the World Championship triumph last week, the Venezuelan, a now four-time world champion, had jumps of 15.08 and 15.15, either of which would have comfortably secured victory against a stacked field that included world championship silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of the Ukraine and Cuba’s Leyanis Perez-Hernandez, the bronze medalist.

However, it was Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts who claimed the runner-up spot on this occasion with her jump of 14.78m. The Jamaican had a second-round jump of 14.62. The 14.78m followed on her third attempt.

Meanwhile, Liadagmis Povea of Cuba, sixth at World’s, took third place with her third-round effort of 14.73m.

Ricketts remarked that it was almost redemptive to be able to finish second in Zurich after missing out on a medal in Budapest.

"It is outside of my control in terms of what happens on the day so all I have to do is to control the things I can control, which is to jump the best I can on that day. Of course, I was disappointed to come out fourth again in Budapest but coming here and finishing on the second place, it is like icing on the cake," she said.

"I just hope to keep building on this. I tried to get a lot of rest and hydration in between the two events as it was extremely hot in Hungary so I have been really focusing on recovery to make sure I can still focus on the rest of the season. Out here, the surface felt a bit different - I think that track was much faster there and I had to make a few adjustments in terms of the runway. But in overal, I think it was a good competition. You do not need to focus on beating anybody, just beating yourself. Because once you do your best, you will be satisfied with the result."

Perez-Hernandez was fourth with 14.62 with Dominica’s Thea LaFond, who produced a new national record of 14.90 in Budapest, finishing fifth with an effort of 14.42m.

Bekh-Romanchuk had four fouls with her one legal jump being 14.37, which placed her sixth.

Dominica's Thea LaFond made her mark on history during the fiercely contested women's triple jump at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Despite finishing fifth, LaFond's performance was nothing short of remarkable, as she broke her own national record not once, but twice during the competition, with jumps of 14.71m and 14.90m. These marks would have secured her a medal in most world championships, highlighting the level of competition she faced.

 The women's triple jump event was a showcase of unparalleled athleticism and grit, with Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela securing her fourth world title with a leap of 15.08m on her final jump. The competition was defined by its intensity, with Rojas narrowly making the final round of jumps after initially being tied for eighth. Ukraine's Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk clinched the silver medal with a season's best of 15.00m, while Cuba's Leyanis Perez-Hernandez secured the bronze with a jump of 14.96m.

 Jamaica's Shanieka Ricketts, a two-time world championship silver medalist, claimed fourth place with a season's best of 14.93m, while Cuba's Liadagmis Povea's best effort of 14.87m placed her in sixth position in the closely contested contest.

 Reflecting on her remarkable journey, LaFond expressed the historic significance of the event.

 "So the competition was really, honestly like history making, to be honest. I mean, you're talking about probably the hardest women's triple term final in the history of the World Championships and it was it was a battle and I'm happy to be part of it and as happy as able to fight, but it was definitely a battle," she said.

 LaFond acknowledged the work she had put in to refine her technique leading up to the event.

 "Earlier this year we did talk about working on different parts of the phases and to the question of did it all come together at the right time, honestly, no. I mean that 1490 was not a perfect jump. It was far from it, which only tells me that there's more left in the tank and I'm excited to see what comes next," she told Sportsmax.TV.

 While her performance would have secured a medal in most years, LaFond faced the challenge of competing in a highly competitive field. "To be honest, 14.90m would have won a medal any year and it's like it's definitely frustrating, you know, but it is quite an honor to be competing in the sport at the height of the sport, truly. But yeah, it's a tough reality."

LaFond candidly expressed her feelings about the thrilling finale of the competition, where Rojas clinched victory with her final jump.

 "It was definitely, I don't even know if the word is deflating. It was just kind of annoying," she confessed. "She was definitely the most vulnerable she's ever looked in the competition, definitely in any major championships, but definitely not deflating. Annoying definitely, but there's nothing deflating over here."

 Amidst the intense competition and emotions, LaFond highlighted the remarkable progression of the sport.

 "Six women over 14.80m. That just means that our sport is getting insane and we're definitely pushing the limits to what people even thought the sport could be," she said.

"And to see so many women, so, so many minority women at that, I'm at the top of the sport. It's really a great feeling. And I really hope that you know, other, you know, little brown girls around the world are finding inspiration through what we do."