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Jackson tops 100m at Rabat Diamond League meet
May 26, 2025
FIVE-time Olympic medallist and defending World 200m champion, Shericka Jackson, made a winning start in her first 100m race of the season at the Wanda Rabat Diamond League meeting in Morocco yesterday.
With many question marks surrounding the Jamaican after an average season, by her standards, so far, Jackson clocked 11.04 seconds to win the women's event.
The Jamaican, following a sluggish start, found her rhythm mid-race to catch her opponents before pulling away for a facile victory.
Maria McCoy of Liberia finished second in 11.08, with Jacious Sears of the United States third in 11.11.
Jackson, who looked a bit disappointed with the time posted, was happy with the overall result.
"It was my first 100m since the Jamaica Trials last year and I am happy, and that's the most important thing," Jackson said.
"I did a lot of stuff good, but there are a lot of things that I can improve.
"But it is a good run, so I leave this competition with only happy feelings," she added.
The next best performance at the meet by a Jamaican came from Olympic shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell, who finished second in the men's throwing event with a season best 21.95 metres.
Campbell actually held the lead, at that point a world best, going into the final round. But the United States' Payton Otterdahl heaved the metal object 21.97m with the last throw of the contest.
Joe Kovacs of the United States ended third with 21.52m.
"It was a good competition," Campbell said. "The circumstances were good, the atmosphere was nice, the stadium was packed, so it was fun to compete.
"It is my second meet of the year and so everything still feels rusty, but I am proud of the result," said Campbell, who is looking forward to the Rome Diamond League meet in a week's time.
Intermediate hurdler Andrenette Knight continued her fine form this season. Competing in the first Diamond League race of the meet -- the women's 400m hurdles -- she produced a season-best 53.90 for a second-place finish.
Making her debut in the event this season, World champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands was very impressive, clocking a meet record of 52.46 for the win. Ayomide Folorunso of Italy took third in a season-best 54.74, edging out Jamaica's Rushell Clayton, who clocked 54.83 on her return from injury.
High jumper Romaine Beckford finished fourth in the men's event after clearing 2.21m -- a season-best, and the same height cleared by the top three, including winner Hamish Kerr of New Zealand. The other Jamaican in the event, Raymond Richards, finished ninth with 2.21m.
The other Jamaican at the meet, Natoya Goule-Toppin, struggled in the women's 800m, finishing 10th in 1:59.92. Dugomi Tsige of Ethiopia won in 1:57.42.
South African sprinter Akani Simbine remained hot this season, maintaining his unbeaten run in the men's 100m. He stopped the clock at 9.95 seconds, getting the better of Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05), with Fred Kerley of the United States third in 10.07.
