Jackson romps 200m finale to complete double Diamond League trophies
Key Points(5)
- “I didn’t get two trophies last year and I rewrote that again, that I wanted two trophies this year.
- I got it and I’m grateful.
- The end of the season, I’m healthy and I ran some fast times.
- I think I still put it together mostly.
- It’s a friendly rivalry.
Jamaica’s ace female sprinter Shericka Jackson romped home to a facile victory in the women’s 200m final to complete a memorable Diamond League trophy sprint double inside Haywood Field at the University of Oregon on Sunday.
On the final day of the two-day Prefontaine Classic, the season-ending Diamond League meet in Eugene, Oregon, Jackson sped to a sensational 21.57 seconds to be a lonely winner in her pet event, establishing a new Diamond League Record in the process after beating the 21.77 seconds set in 2017 by the late American sprinter Tori Bowie.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast was second in a season-best 22.10 seconds, with Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas finishing in third place in 22.16 seconds.
Jackson had won the 100m final on Saturday in a brisk 10.70 seconds, with Ta Lou being the runner-up then.
The Jamaican thus captured two Diamond League trophies and another US$30,000 as cash award.
She was delighted with realizing a dream she had from last year when she finished second to compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m final before winning the 200m final.
“Funny enough, last year one of my goals I wrote was how I wanted to get two trophies,” Jackson said. “I didn’t get two trophies last year and I rewrote that again, that I wanted two trophies this year. I got it and I’m grateful. The end of the season, I’m healthy and I ran some fast times. So I’m definitely grateful.”
Jackson was the pre-eminent female sprinter this year and went extremely close to copping the sprint double at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023.
She narrowly lost the 100m final to American Sha’Carri Richardson but set the record straight with a dominant victory in the 200m in the second fastest time ever, 21.41 seconds, merely seven-hundredth of a second outside Florence Griffith-Joyner’s track record of 21.34 seconds set in 1988 at the Seoul Olympic Games.
Brilliant Parchment stuns Halloway
Earlier, 2021 Olympic Games 110m hurdles gold medallist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica stunned three-time World Champion Grant Halloway to snatch the Diamond League trophy in a personal best and World Leading 12.93 seconds.
The World Championships Budapest 2023 bronze medallist recovered quickly from his usual slow start to power past the American for a comfortable victory. Halloway clocked 13.06 seconds, one tick ahead of countryman Daniel Roberts in 13.07 seconds.
Parchment was delighted with the win.
“The start wasn’t perfect, I was thinking a lot about getting a better start to really be a little bit more competitive. I think I still put it together mostly. Got the PR (personal best), got the win, so I’m very happy about that.”
Parchment performed a similar trick in Japan in 2021 when he ran past Halloway, renowned for his superfast starts, close home to claim the Olympic Games gold medal.
On Sunday he spoke to the rivalry that has developed over the past few years.
“We try to enjoy ourselves as well. It’s a friendly rivalry. We try to push each other every time we go there. He has a massive, ridiculous start. I try to learn from that every time I see him run. He looks up to me as well because I’ve been competing for many years before he started, so I think it’s a good rivalry and really helps us to make the event more competitive.”
More on Hansle Parchment
- Hansle Parchment beats McLeod in world lead at Birmingham Diamond League
- Hansle Parchment Sets Sights on Paris 2024
- Hansle Parchment Cops Gold in 110m Hurdles; Creates Major Upset
Goule runs National Record for bronze in 800m final
Meanwhile, Natoya Goule ran a National Record 1:55.96 minutes to claim third place in the women’s 800m final. The pint-sized athlete bettered the 1:56.18 minutes she established in Monaco in 2018.
The event was won by American Athing Mu in a National Record 1:54.97 minutes, with Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain taking second, also in a National Record 1:55.19 minutes.
Also taking a podium finish for Jamaica was 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle in the men’s long jump.
Gayle cut the sand at 8:22m, the same distance as winner Simon Ehammer of Switzerland. Yuki Hashioka of Japan was third with 8.15m.
The Bahamas’ LaQuan Nairn finished 7th with 7.27m.
Clayton ends season with 3rd place in 400m hurdles final
Rushell Clayton finished third in the 400m hurdles final in 53.56 seconds. The event was won by Femke Bol of the Netherlands in a meet-record 51.98 seconds.
She bettered the previous best time of 52.77 seconds set in 2021 by American Dalilah Mohammad. Second place went to Shamier Little of the US in 53.45 seconds.
Jamaica’s Janieve Russell finished just outside the podium in fourth place in 53.60 seconds.
Candice McLeod of Jamaica was fourth in the women’s 400m final in 50.76 seconds. The race was won by Marileidy Paulinho of the Dominican Republic in 49.58 seconds.
Sada Williams of Barbados was seventh in 51.07 seconds, while Aliyah Abrams of Guyana was eighth in 51.97 seconds.
The women’s 100m hurdles saw World Record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria upset the applecart when she ran a season-best 12.33 seconds, with Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico taking second in 12.38 seconds and Kendra Harrison of the US taking third place in 12.44 seconds.
Jamaica’s two-time World Champion Danielle Williams finished fourth in 12.47 seconds, with compatriot Megan Tapper fifth in 12.48 seconds.
