Jamaica’s Jordan Scott once again rose to the occasion with a clutch final-round leap to seize victory in the men’s triple jump at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Paris on Friday, solidifying his status as the event’s 2025 leader.
Following his breakout win in Oslo just a week prior, Scott delivered a composed and tactical performance, culminating in a superb 17.27m effort on his sixth and final attempt to dethrone Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso. Zango had led with 17.21m until Scott’s late strike, while France’s Thomas Gogois claimed third with 17.11m.
Opening with a solid 17.11m, Scott then struggled to land legal marks through the middle rounds. But when it mattered most, he responded under pressure—proving his mettle on the Diamond League stage.
“This is a very tactical event, so it is all about jumping smart and saving yourself for when it matters,” Scott reflected. “Unfortunately, my coach was not here, so I had some figuring out to do by myself. I am very pleased with the result, but I am not sure how much longer my personal best will stand. This is a long season and I am not too worried about it. It will happen at some point, and I’m just grateful for jumping 17.27m today and happy with the win.”
With this back-to-back triumph, the 25-year-old now leads the Diamond League standings with 23 points. His Paris effort equaled the second-longest jump of his career and reaffirmed his upward trajectory, having recently set a personal best of 17.34m in Oslo.
Ackera Nugent breaks barriers in hurdles thriller
Also flying the Jamaican flag high in Paris was national record holder Ackera Nugent, who scorched the track to finish third in a world-class women’s 100m hurdles final.
Clocking a season’s best 12.30 seconds, Nugent improved on her previous mark of 12.34 seconds set earlier this year in Florida. The race proved historic, with the top three athletes all going under the long-standing meet record of 12.32 seconds, which had endured since 1992.
American Grace Stark stormed to a personal best and new meet record of 12.21 seconds to clinch victory, completing a consecutive Diamond League double after winning in Oslo. World record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria followed closely in second with 12.24 seconds, also a season’s best.
Benjamin, Paulino, and Cunningham set Paris ablaze
While Jamaican athletes delivered standout performances, several international stars lit up the Paris track in other events:
Men’s 400m hurdles
The United States’ Rai Benjamin continued his commanding form with a sensational 46.93 seconds run, smashing the previous meet record of 46.98 set in 2018 by Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba. Samba settled for second with a season’s best of 47.09 seconds, while fellow American Trevor Bassitt claimed third in 48.14 seconds.
Men’s 110m hurdles
It was a night to remember for Trey Cunningham, who equaled his personal best of 13.00 seconds to win the men’s 110m hurdles. American Ryan Beard clocked a personal best of 13.02 seconds for second, while Switzerland’s Jason Joseph posted a national record of 13.07 seconds for third. Olympic champion Grant Holloway, returning from injury, finished fifth in 13.11 seconds.
Women’s 400m
The women’s 400m delivered one of the meet’s most gripping finishes. Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic narrowly edged Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain in a titanic sprint to the line. Paulino set a season’s best and new meet record of 48.81 seconds, eclipsing her own mark of 49.12 set two years ago. Naser followed in 48.85 seconds, while China’s Martina Weil ran a national record 49.83 seconds for third.
Paris delivers drama, records, and rising stars
From the explosive runway of the triple jump to the lightning-fast sprints and hurdles, the Paris Diamond League meet delivered an evening of athletic artistry and championship spirit. For Jordan Scott and Ackera Nugent, it was another step upward in their evolving journey toward global track and field excellence.
As the Diamond League moves forward and the Jamaican national trials loom, all eyes will remain fixed on these rising stars who are making their mark—one jump, one stride, one finish line at a time.
