Jamaican athletes advance in multiple events at Paris 2024
Key Points(5)
- PARIS, France – Jamaican athletes showcased their prowess in various events during the morning session of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Monday, securing spots in the next rounds across multiple disciplines.
- The only setback came in the 400m repechage, where Deandre Watkin did not start, and Sean Bailey pulled up with an apparent injury, though he later walked off the running track unaided.
- In the men's 400m hurdles, all three Jamaican athletes moved forward with solid performances.
- Jaheel Hyde finished second in his heat with a time of 49.08 seconds, trailing American Rai Benjamin, who clocked 48.82 seconds.
- Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands secured third in the same heat with 49.24 seconds.
PARIS, France – Jamaican athletes showcased their prowess in various events during the morning session of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Monday, securing spots in the next rounds across multiple disciplines.
The only setback came in the 400m repechage, where Deandre Watkin did not start, and Sean Bailey pulled up with an apparent injury, though he later walked off the running track unaided.
In the men's 400m hurdles, all three Jamaican athletes moved forward with solid performances. Jaheel Hyde finished second in his heat with a time of 49.08 seconds, trailing American Rai Benjamin, who clocked 48.82 seconds. Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands secured third in the same heat with 49.24 seconds.
Roshawn Clarke clinched victory in heat four, posting a time of 48.17 seconds, while Malik James-King followed suit, winning heat five in 48.20 seconds.
“ I’m looking forward to come back out here and execute as best as I did just now and get to the final as easy as possible, no pressure,” stated Clarke.
He admitted to “a little bit of rust, nothing serious and that will be cleaned up by the time the semi-finals come around, but as I said, execution is key, if my execution is good then that will get me through.”
Discus throwers shine
The Jamaican discus throwers also impressed. Traves Smikle led the way with a throw of 65.91m, placing fourth overall. Ralford Mullings achieved a fifth-place finish in Group A with a distance of 65.18m. In Group B, Roje Stona secured second place with a throw of 65.32m.
None of the Jamaican throwers met the automatic qualifying standard of 66.0m, but they will advance based on their rankings. Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania led Group A with 67.47m, followed by Matthew Denny of Australia (66.83m) and Lukas Weisshaidinger of Austria (66.72m). Clemens Prufer from Group B also qualified with a throw of 66.36m. The final is scheduled for Wednesday night.
The women's 400m heats saw Jamaican athletes perform admirably. World leader Nickisha Pryce won heat two in 50.02 seconds. Stacey Ann Williams finished second in her heat with a time of 50.05 seconds, just behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser (49.91 seconds). Junelle Bromfield, partner of sprinter Noah Lyles, displayed determination to clinch third place in her heat, finishing in 51.36 seconds. The race was won by Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke in 50.09 seconds, with American Alexis Holmes placing second in 50.35 seconds.
