Jamaican stars McLeod and Ricketts win at Paavo Nurmi Games
Key Points(4)
- McLeod edged out Belgium’s Elie Bacari, who finished in 13.38 seconds, and Finland’s Elmo Lakka, who came third in 13.43 seconds.
- Anderson had earlier recorded 12.93 seconds in the heats.
- The final was won by American World champion Nia Ali in 12.48 seconds, just ahead of Dutchwoman Nadine Visser, who clocked 12.51 seconds.
- The event was won by India’s Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 85.97 meters.
National 110m hurdles record holder Omar McLeod continued his impressive resurgence this season with a winning performance at the Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour-Gold event, held in Turku, Finland on Tuesday.
The 2016 Olympic and 2017 World champion clocked a season’s best 13.25 seconds to clinch victory in the men’s 110m hurdles final. McLeod edged out Belgium’s Elie Bacari, who finished in 13.38 seconds, and Finland’s Elmo Lakka, who came third in 13.43 seconds. The 30-year-old Jamaican earlier advanced fastest from the heats with a time of 13.29 seconds.
In the women’s sprint hurdles, World Championships silver medallist Britany Anderson produced a season’s best of 12.87 seconds to finish sixth in the final. Anderson had earlier recorded 12.93 seconds in the heats. The final was won by American World champion Nia Ali in 12.48 seconds, just ahead of Dutchwoman Nadine Visser, who clocked 12.51 seconds. Ireland’s Sarah Lavin secured third place with a time of 12.66 seconds.
McLeod’s third win in four events this season
This victory marks McLeod’s third win in four events this season. His previous two wins came in Italy on May 15 and 19, where he clocked 13.37 and 13.47 seconds at the Savona International Meeting and Lucca International Meeting, respectively.
Elsewhere, two-time World Championships triple jump silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts claimed victory in the women’s triple jump with a best effort of 14.17 meters, achieved in the first round of the competition. Italy’s Dariya Derkach finished second with a jump of 14.08 meters, while Sweden’s Maja Askag took third place with a jump of 14.06 meters.
In the men’s javelin throw, two-time World champion Anderson Peters threw 82.58 meters to secure fourth place. The event was won by India’s Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 85.97 meters. Finnish athletes Toni Keranen and Oliver Helander took second and third place with throws of 84.19 meters and 83.96 meters, respectively.
The performances by McLeod and Ricketts highlight the strong showing by Jamaican athletes on the international stage, as they continue to prepare for upcoming global competitions.
