Jamaican discus and Commonwealth Games champion Fedrick Dacres, 24, won the men’s discus throw on Friday, May 31 at the Rome Diamond League in Italy with a throw of 68.51m. He was the only Jamaican winner at the met.
This was the second win for Dacres this week as he also won at the Turnov Ludvik Danek memorial in the Czech Republic on May 29 with a throw of 68.35 meters
On Friday, Dacres had throws of 66.69m, 68.51m, 65.68m, 64.99m, 66.37m and 67.01m and won ahead of Andrius Gudzius of Lithuania with 68.17m. Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi was third with 65.93m.
Dacres, the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion who also has the world-leading mark of 69.83m, and three of the top seven distances, was pleased with his performance.
Other Jamaican athletes did not fare nearly as well.
Shericka Jackson finished sixth in the 200m in 23.14 in a race won by Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast in 22.49. Veteran Ivet lalova-Collio of Bulgaria was second in 22.64.
Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles champion Janieve Russell was second in 54.08 in a non-Diamond League event on the program. Georganne Moline of the US won in a season’s best 53.97, with American Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad third in 54.65.
Jamaica’s 2015 World champion Danielle Williams was second in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.82. American Shericka Nelvis won in 12.76 with Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan third in 12.86. In form American Brianna McNeal crashed out.
Jamaica’s Commonwealth Games champion Aisha Praught achieved her season’s best in the 3,000m steeplechase, clocking 9:19.33 minutes for eighth spot. It was just outside her personal best and national record of 9:19.29. Hyvin Kiyeng of Kenya won in 9:04.96 minutes.
Stephenie-Ann McPherson was second in the women’s 400m, clocking a season’s best 50.69 behind winner Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain in 50.51. American Jaide Stepter was third in 51.47.
And, Tajay Gayle leapt 8.17m for fifth in the men’s long jump won by Luvo Manyonga of South Africa with 8.58m. Cuba’s Juan Echevarria was second with 8.53m. South Africa, showing great depth in the jumps, was third courtesy of Rushahl Samaai with 8.34m.
