PARIS, France — All but one Jamaican athlete advanced to the next round of competition on Day Four of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France on Sunday morning. The only athlete to falter was 2019 World Champion long jumper Tajay Gayle, who recorded a jump of 7.78m, insufficient to make the top 12 for Tuesday’s final.
Gayle, with a personal best of 8.69m, finished 10th in Group B. Meanwhile, his compatriots Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod advanced to the final. Pinnock secured his spot with a 7.96m jump, placing fifth in Group B, while McLeod jumped 7.90m in Group A, finishing fourth. World champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece led Group A with 8.32m, and Radek Juska of the Czech Republic topped Group B with 8.15m, the only jumpers to achieve the Olympic qualifying standard.
Pinnock is currently ranked seventh overall, McLeod 11th, and Gayle 19th.
The morning session also brought disappointment in the women’s 200m, as reigning World Champion Shericka Jackson was a no-show in heat three. Her absence has fueled speculation about an injury that may have kept her from competing in these Olympic Games. Jackson had previously withdrawn from the 100m, citing a recent injury and a strategic focus on the longer sprint.
Sprint hurdlers advance
In her absence, Niesha Burgher clocked 22.54 seconds to finish second behind American Gabby Thomas, who ran 22.20 seconds in heat one. Lanae-Tava Thomas also advanced, finishing second in heat three with a time of 22.70 seconds behind Brittany Brown of the USA, who won in 22.38 seconds.
All three Jamaican men advanced to the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles. Defending champion Hansle Parchment faced a challenging race, finishing fifth in heat three with a time of 13.43 seconds, but he advanced as one of the fastest losers. Orlando Bennett secured his spot by finishing second in heat two with 13.35 seconds, while Rasheed Broadbell also advanced with a second-place finish in heat five, clocking 13.42 seconds. American favorite Grant Holloway won that heat in 13.01 seconds.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, all three Jamaican athletes progressed. Rushell Clayton won the first heat with a time of 54.32 seconds. Shiann Salmon followed with a second-place finish in heat three, clocking 53.95 seconds, behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who ran 53.38 seconds. Janieve Russell secured her place by finishing third in heat four with a time of 54.67 seconds. American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominated heat five, winning with ease in 53.60 seconds.
