PARIS, France – On a night marked by the spectacular achievement of Armand Duplantis, who set a ninth world record in the pole vault by clearing 6.25m, Jamaican athletes experienced a disappointing evening at the Stade de France.
Duplantis’ extraordinary performance, which followed a new Olympic record set just moments earlier, ignited celebrations among the diverse crowd, uniting fans in admiration.
The event took place shortly after the men’s 100m medal ceremony, where Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson received his silver medal alongside Americans Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley, who claimed gold and bronze, respectively. However, the disappointment of the Jamaican contingent prior to Thompson’s medal ceremony had already left the Caribbean supporters dejected.
In the men’s 200m heats, Andrew Hudson finished fourth in heat two with a time of 20.53 seconds, while newcomer Bryan Lovell also placed fourth in heat six, clocking 20.47 seconds. This heat was won by the newly crowned Olympic 100m champion, Noah Lyles, in 20.19 seconds, with Canada’s Andre De Grasse finishing second in 20.30 seconds. Both Hudson and Lovell will now face the Repechage Round on Tuesday morning in a bid to qualify for the semi-finals, though their path ahead appears challenging.
More disappointment for Jamaica
The women’s 200m semi-finals brought more disappointment for Jamaica. Niesha Burgher and Lanae-Tava Thomas both exited the competition after placing fifth in their respective heats. Burgher recorded 22.64 seconds in semi-final two, which was won by the USA’s Gabby Thomas in 21.86 seconds. Thomas’s compatriot Brittany Brown won semi-final three in 22.12 seconds, while St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, fresh from her 100m gold medal victory, secured semi-final one in 21.98 seconds. The stage is now set for a thrilling final between Alfred and Thomas.
Looking ahead, Jamaica hopes to improve its medal tally, which currently stands at two silver and one bronze. On Tuesday, men’s team captain Yona Knight-Wisdom makes his long-awaited splash into the competition when he contests the men’s 3m springboard preliminary at the Aquatics Centre.
Twenty-five divers will take to the pool with the best 18 at the end of the contest will qualify for the semi-finals. The diving takes place at 4:00 am (EST).
Adelle Tracey will compete in the women’s 1500m, seeking redemption after a disappointing 800m performance. Chanice Porter and Ackelia Smith will aim for the finals in the women’s long jump qualification, while Jevaughn Powell will represent Jamaica in the men’s 400m semi-finals.
In the women’s 400m hurdles semi-finals, Rushell Clayton will race in the first heat, Janieve Russell faces a tough challenge against world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the second, and Shiann Salmon will compete against Femke Bol and Anna Cockrell in the third.
Finally, Carey McLeod and Wayne Pinnock will vie for medals in the men’s long jump final, hoping to bring more success to Team Jamaica.
