Jackson pulls up in Lausanne

Jamaican athletes endured a difficult outing at yesterday’s Lausanne Diamond League meet, with Shericka Jackson failing to finish the women’s 200 metres and the others missing out on top-three places.

Jackson, who had revealed at a pre-meet press conference that she trained sparingly following the death of her long-time coach Stephen Francis in July, admitted she was uncertain of her form heading into the race.

She started quickly but pulled up after coming off the curve, collapsing to the track with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. The setback raised concerns that her season could end prematurely.

The race was won by American Kayla White in 22.18 seconds, with Great Britain’s Amy Hunt second in 22.32 and Nigeria’s Favour Ofili third in the same time.

Rushell Clayton and Orlando Bennett produced Jamaica’s best finishes, both placing fourth in their hurdles events. Clayton clocked 53.65 in the 400m hurdles behind Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova (52.41), American Anna Cockrell (53.15), and Belgium’s Paulien Couckuyt, who set a national record of 53.28.

Bennett, already qualified for next month’s Diamond League finals in Brussels, ran 13.38 in the 110m hurdles. American Jamal Britt won in 13.13, while world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp finished eighth in 14.38 after struggling throughout.

Triple jumper Jordan Scott, also bound for the finals, managed 16.86m for fourth. Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo won with 17.44m, edging Algeria’s Mohammed Yasser Triki (17.43) and Italy’s Andy Hernandez Diaz (17.20).

Men’s long jump

Wayne Pinnock placed sixth in the men’s long jump with 8.01m, while Tajay Gayle was ninth with 7.70m. Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou took victory with 8.24m.

National champion Demisha Roswell finished seventh in the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.03. American Masai Russell continued her unbeaten run, winning in a meet record 12.27. Nadine Visser of the Netherlands was second in 12.42, with Russell’s compatriot Alysha Johnson third in 12.49.

The meet produced several record-breaking performances. Switzerland’s Audrey Werro won the women’s 800m in a meet record 1:55.33, while Femke Bol of the Netherlands set a national record of 1:55.41 for second. American Rai Benjamin returned to the 400m hurdles with a meet record 46.67. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo also impressed, winning the men’s 200m in 19.87 ahead of South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile (19.98).