Jackson, Scott lead Lausanne charge

The Wanda Diamond League series resumes on Friday after a four‑week break to accommodate two major championships – the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the European Athletics Championships, which concluded in Birmingham, England, at the weekend.

Competition returns in Lausanne, Switzerland, for the third‑to‑last meet before the Grand Final in Brussels, Belgium, on September 4 and 5. With 72 athletes already qualified for Brussels, several contenders will use the remaining three meets to secure their places.

Five Jamaicans have already booked their spots for the finals: triple jumper Jordan Scott, thrower Danniel Thomas‑Dodd, 400m hurdler Rushell Clayton, and 400m runners Nickisha Pryce and Stacey‑Ann Williams.

Following two impressive outings this season, Shericka Jackson is expected to seal her place in the 200m final on Friday. Jackson, who won in Shanghai in 22.07 seconds and Xiamen in 21.87, sits fourth on 16 points. She will face strong competition from American Kayla White (season’s best (SB) 21.92), European champion Amy Hunt of Great Britain (22.19), and Nigeria’s Favour Ofili (22.15).

Long jumpers Tajay Gayle (SB 8.37m) and Wayne Pinnock (SB 8.39m) will chase valuable points in Lausanne. They are third and fourth in the standings with 14 and 12 points, respectively. The event features Diamond League leader Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece (23 points, SB 8.66m), Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov (16 points), and Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer (SB 8.51m).

Scott and Gayle are among seven Jamaicans competing at the meet.

SCOTT LEADS TRIPLE JUMP

Scott, the men’s triple jump leader with 22 points and a season’s best 17.69m, will face world leader Andy Hernandez Diaz of Italy (SB 18.15m), who is third on 15 points. Algeria’s Mohammed Triki sits second on 16 points (SB 17.67m), while Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo is also a major contender with a season’s best 17.76m.

Clayton Eyes Improvement in 400m Hurdles

Clayton, second in the women’s 400m hurdles on 26 points, will aim to improve her season’s best 53.05 seconds. She will line up against event leader Emma Zapletalova of Slovakia (32 points, SB 52.30) and American Anna Cockrell, fourth on 14 points with a season’s best 52.77.

ROSWELL FACES TOUGH FIELD

National champion Demisha Roswell competes in the women’s 100m hurdles but appears unlikely to advance, sitting 14th with five points. She will look to improve her season’s and personal-best 12.40 seconds.

The field includes event leader Masai Russell of the United States (32 points, SB 12.14) and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, second on 28 points with a season’s best 12.28. The strong competition should provide added motivation for Roswell to produce a fast time.

The other Jamaican in action is Orlando Bennett, who contests the men’s 110m hurdles – a non‑Diamond League event. Bennett has a season’s best 13.15 and will face Americans Ja’Kobe Tharp, the world record holder (PB 12.75), and Jamal Britt (PB 12.86).