Pryce battles to strong third as Paulino breaks Athlos record in London
Key Points(5)
- Nickisha Pryce produced another solid performance over 400 meters on Friday, running 49.39 seconds for third place at the Athlos London meeting at StoneX Stadium.
- The Jamaican was unable to match the extraordinary pace set by Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, who stormed to victory in a meeting-record 48.73 seconds, but Pryce again demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level late in the season.
- Norway’s Henriette Jaeger separated the two, powering to 48.78 seconds for a national record in a race that produced two of the fastest performances of the meeting.
- For Paulino, the victory was another statement just six days after she clocked 49.07 seconds to win the 400m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
- Paulino answers her own challenge Paulino had arrived in London with a clear objective: break 49 seconds once more before bringing her season to a close.
Nickisha Pryce produced another solid performance over 400 meters on Friday, running 49.39 seconds for third place at the Athlos London meeting at StoneX Stadium.
The Jamaican was unable to match the extraordinary pace set by Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, who stormed to victory in a meeting-record 48.73 seconds, but Pryce again demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level late in the season.
Norway’s Henriette Jaeger separated the two, powering to 48.78 seconds for a national record in a race that produced two of the fastest performances of the meeting.
For Paulino, the victory was another statement just six days after she clocked 49.07 seconds to win the 400m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
Paulino answers her own challenge
Paulino had arrived in London with a clear objective: break 49 seconds once more before bringing her season to a close.
She delivered emphatically.
Her 48.73-second effort was not only fast enough to secure the Athlos title but also bettered the 48.97 seconds she ran to win the London Diamond League meeting in July, when she finished ahead of Jaeger and Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams.
Williams returned to the track in London but could manage only fifth in 50.11 seconds.
The result gave Paulino another major victory in a season in which she has continued to establish herself as one of the dominant figures in the event.
Pryce keeps pace with the elite
For Pryce, the 49.39 seconds provided another strong marker against an elite field and reinforced her position among the leading quarter-milers.
Although the Jamaican could not challenge Paulino and Jaeger for the top two places, her sub-50 performance ensured she remained firmly in the mix throughout a high-quality race.
The Athlos appearance also capped a demanding stretch of competition for Pryce, who had already featured prominently on the international circuit.
Richardson lights up the 100m
Sha’Carri Richardson provided another American highlight, dominating the women’s 100m in a meeting-record 10.80 seconds.
New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs finished second in 11.19 seconds, while American Anavia Battle was third in 11.25 seconds.
Battle later returned to the track to complete the podium in the 200m, won by Olympic champion Gabby Thomas in 22.13 seconds.
Kayla White took second in 22.40 seconds, with Battle third in 22.43 seconds to complete an all-American podium.
Williams fourth in hurdles battle
Jamaica’s Danielle Williams narrowly missed the podium in the 100m hurdles, finishing fourth in 12.63 seconds.
Compatriot Megan Simmonds was fifth in 12.66 seconds.
American Alaysha Johnson won a closely fought race in 12.50 seconds, edging Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who ran 12.51 seconds. Bahamas hurdler Devynne Charlton was third in 12.63 seconds, with Williams also recording 12.63 seconds.
Hodgkinson delivers for home crowd
Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson gave the home fans another reason to celebrate by winning the 800m in a meeting-record 1:56.40 minutes.
Switzerland’s Valentina Rosamilia was second in 1:58.75 minutes, while France’s Renelle Lamote finished third in 2:00.15 minutes.
The women’s mile went to Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska, who held off Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell in a close finish.
Kazimierska stopped the clock at 4:19.43 minutes, just 0.11 ahead of Hunter Bell’s 4:19.54 minutes. Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi was third in 4:19.84 minutes.
Jones steals long-jump victory
The long jump produced one of the evening’s late surprises when American Alyssa Jones claimed victory with a best effort of 6.66 meters.
France’s Hilary Kpatcha finished second at 6.64m, while American Monae’ Nichols was third with 6.58m.
Athlos London represented a significant step for the women’s-only series, with the StoneX Stadium meeting serving as its first international event outside the United States.
The competition featured seven events, with six athletes contesting each event, as the series continued its expansion onto the international athletics calendar.
