Gayle, Seville strike gold at Diamond League Finals

Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle and Oblique Seville produced outstanding performances on the opening day of the Wanda Diamond League Finals in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday, capturing titles in the men’s long jump and 100 metres, respectively.

Gayle saved his best for last, soaring to a season’s best 8.46 metres (+1.4m/s) with his final attempt to snatch victory from Olympic and World champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece, who had taken the lead with 8.40m.

The victory was a dramatic one for Gayle, who had a best of 8.21m before his final-round effort. Swiss athlete Simon Ehammer was third with 8.23m.

Wayne Pinnock, the other Jamaican in the event, finished fifth with a best of 7.94m.

“Second time winning the Diamond League Final. I am proud. This place definitely seems to bring me good fortune,” said Gayle, who was winning his second Diamond League Trophy.

“Without an Olympic or World Championships, there was no need to rush preparation this year. Just look forward to the Diamond League Final and Ultimate Championship. Other guys are consistently jumping 8.30m this year, so I will need to step it up if I want to become the next world champion. 8.50m and 8.60m absolutely feel like a realistic goal,” Gayle said.

Seville, meanwhile, continued his impressive season by producing a controlled 9.90 seconds (+0.1m/s) to win the men’s 100m and secure the Diamond Trophy.

The World champion got a strong start and held off Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon, who finished second in 9.93, while Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi was third in 9.97.

Seville, who topped the Diamond League standings going into the final, added the prestigious title to his World Championships crown and maintained Jamaica’s strong tradition in the event.

“My start was far from the best, but the aim is always to win, so I won’t complain. I didn’t change too much after becoming world champion. What I was doing clearly worked, and this season is further proof of that. Next season, I want to defend my title and dominate the Diamond League,” said Seville in a post-race interview.

Roje Stona also produced a podium finish for Jamaica, throwing 68.86m for third in the men’s discus. Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh won with a meeting-record 71.29m, while Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna was second with 70.14m.

In the men’s high jump, Romaine Beckford cleared 2.21m for fifth place, while Ackelia Smith was fourth in the women’s triple jump with 14.29m.

Rushell Clayton was fifth in the women’s 400m hurdles in 53.85 seconds. Anna Cockrell won in 53.01, ahead of Emma Zapletalova (53.10).

Orlando Bennett (13.43 seconds) was sixth in the 110m hurdles won by American world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp in 13.03.

Julien Alfred of St Lucia continued her unbeaten run in the women’s 200m, producing a superb 21.79 seconds to capture another Diamond League title. She finished well clear of American Kayla White, who was second in 22.00, and Amy Hunt of Great Britain, who was third in a season’s best 22.16.

The opening day also produced several outstanding performances, including four meet records.

One of the highlights came in the final event, the men’s 400m, where four athletes dipped under 44 seconds, underlining the exceptional quality of the quarter-mile final.

Collen Busang Kebinatshipi of Botswana won in 43.40 seconds, which was a personal best, national record, meet record and Diamond League record.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards was second in a national record of 43.68, while there were personal best times for Americans Jacory Patterson, who clocked 43.78, and Chris Bailey (43.97) for third and fourth, respectively.