Monaco is a country built around a race track — the Circuit de Monte Carlo. But, last night all eyes were on a Stade Louis stadium for the Monégasque leg of the 2023 Diamond League. Our Caribbean nationals gave an impressive showing across a number of events.
Women’s 200m
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson secured gold in the Women’s 200m race, with a time of 21.86, beating out St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred. “It was great for me today. Last time, I was second here so to come here and take the win is really, really good,” Jackson said after the race. The racing circuit has been grueling with Jackson set to compete again in London on Sunday.
“Oh, my execution? I do not think that the curve was as good as I wanted but I managed to go until the finish, so it was good,” she said about her race. “I have one more [race] coming up so I am glad I finished this one healthy. I did that on the home straight, I think, so I am grateful. This season I focus[ed] on myself and I just stay in my lane.”
Tomorrow, all eyes will turn to London to see Jackson’s headline clash against the US powerhouse sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.
Men’s 100m
Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake won a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m sprint barely edging out fellow country men Yohan Blake and Kishane Thompson. Ultimately the event belonged to the Africans. Letsile Tebogo finished 2nd for Botswana pipped by the Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala in a photo finish.
Men’s Triple Jump
Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert won silver in the men’s triple jump. It was an excellent showing for the 18 year old Jamaican who might be disappointed to not secure gold over the veteran Burkinabe Hughes Fabrice Zango. Cuba’s Lázaro Martínez finished just outside of the podium.
Women’s 400m
Bajan athlete Sada Williams ran a season best 50.00 seconds to finish 5th on the night. The 25 year old was painfully close to finishing 3rd but was beaten out in a photo finish by Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver and Irish athlete Rhasidat Adeleke.
Men’s Javelin
Trindad and Tobgago’s Keshorn Walcott secured bronze in the Javelin throw beating out fellow Caribbean national Grenadian Anderson Peters in a closely contested field where every competitor represented a different nation.
Women’s Long Jump
Ackelia Smith 7th in the women’s long jump. The NCAA outdoors and national champion, who has a personal best of 7.08m, leapt to a second-round best of 6.70m.
