BRUSSELS, Belgium – Jamaica wrapped up the Diamond League Finals with a trio of podium finishes, cementing the island’s status as a global track and field powerhouse.
On a thrilling final day on Saturday, Ackera Nugent, Shiann Salmon, and Rajindra Campbell all stood on the podium, showcasing their talents across hurdles, shot put, and sprints.
In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Ackera Nugent fought her way to a third-place finish with a time of 12.55 seconds. Nugent’s podium finish came in a hotly contested race, won by Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who clocked an impressive 12.38 seconds. Nadine Visser from the Netherlands finished second in 12.54 seconds, just ahead of Nugent. Fellow Jamaican Danielle Williams finished just outside the top three, taking fifth place in 12.62 seconds.
“I’m happy to be on the podium again in such a competitive field,” Nugent said. “It’s been a long season, but this is a great way to finish.”
A strong performance
Shiann Salmon also delivered a strong performance, taking third place in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Salmon crossed the line in 53.99 seconds, securing another medal for Jamaica. She trailed behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who claimed her third consecutive Diamond League title with a blistering 52.45 seconds, and Anna Cockrell of the USA, who finished second in 53.71 seconds.
In the field events, Rajindra Campbell earned a bronze medal in the men’s shot put with a throw of 21.95 meters. The event was dominated by Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, who set a meet record with a throw of 22.98 meters, while Ryan Crouser of the USA took second with 22.79 meters. Campbell’s performance capped an impressive season for the Jamaican shot putter, as he consistently competed against the world’s best.
Beyond Jamaica’s standout performances, Caribbean athletes continued to shine on the final day of the competition. Anderson Peters of Grenada thrilled fans with a dramatic win in the men’s javelin. Peters’ opening throw of 87.87 meters narrowly edged out India’s Neeraj Chopra, whose best effort measured just one centimeter less at 87.86 meters. Germany’s Julian Weber finished third with 85.97 meters.
“I knew it would be close, but I trusted my first throw. It’s a great feeling to come out on top,” Peters said after his victory.
Other notable performances
And Camacho-Quinn stormed to victory to finish her season on a high. Fresh off a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist was relentless from the start and held off strong competition from Visser and Nugent.
The Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando also captured a bronze medal, finishing third in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 19.97 seconds. The race was won by Kenneth Bednarek of the USA, who clocked 19.67 seconds, with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo taking silver in 19.80 seconds.
In other results, Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke (49.08 seconds) and Malik James-King (49.37 seconds) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, while Romaine Beckford placed fourth in the men’s high jump with a leap of 2.22 meters.
As the Diamond League season came to a close, the performances of Jamaica and other Caribbean athletes left an indelible mark, with several podium finishes and two notable victories that underscored the region’s track and field prowess.
