Big first jump lands Diamond League victory, pb for Scott
Olympian Jordan Scott picked up Jamaica's only win at yesterday's Oslo Bislett Games -- the sixth stop of the Wanda Diamond League -- producing a personal best of 17.34 metres to capture the men's triple jump.
Scott credited his coach for the win, after turning the tables on Portugal's Pedro Pichardo, who was second with 17.06m, after losing to him in Shaoxing, China.
"My coach said to me I needed to get one in early as it was going to get cooler as the night wore on, so I was pleased to execute that feat on my first jump," said Scott, who recorded his winning mark on his first attempt.
"It did cool down, which made it harder for jumpers. But to jump my personal best so early in the season is pleasing, as it shows I am going in the right direction," added the former Campion College standout, who is looking forward to the next Diamond League meet in Paris.
RICKETTS SECOND
In the women's triple jump, Olympic Games silver medallist and Diamond League leader, Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts, suffered her first defeat of the season, finishing second with a mark of 14.57m.
World leader Leyanis Hernandez Perez of Cuba, who only recorded two legitimate jumps, won with a distance of 14.72m. Jasmine Moore of the United States took third with a season best 14.41m, while Jamaica's Ackelia Smith finished sixth with a season best 14.26m.
Ricketts, who led with 14.40m after her first attempt, was third going into her final jump, but moved up to second.
"I certainly left it late today, and I had a couple of good jumps in the mix. The wind was very mixed today, moving around quite a lot," she pointed out.
"I am heading back to Jamaica for the National Championships, then I will compete in a few Diamond League meets after, in preparation for the Tokyo World Championships. I need to keep jumping to stay in good stead ahead of that Championships," said Ricketts.
Olympic Games 100m champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia made her season debut in the event in fine style, speeding 10.89 seconds to win the women's 100m and record the second fastest time this season, behind the United States' Melissa Jefferson-Wooden's 10.73.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou Smith of Cote d'Ivoire finished second in a season best 11.00 seconds, with Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith third, also in a season best, 11.08 seconds.
WORLD RECORD
There was a world record at the meet, as hometown hero Karsten Warholm thrilled his fans with an exceptional performance in the rarely run 300m hurdles. The event, which brought together the top three intermediate male hurdlers in the world, saw the Norwegian outshine his rivals to win in a personal best 32.67 seconds, a new Diamond League and meet record. Rai Benjamin of the United States finished second in 33.22, just ahead of Brazil's Alison dos Santos, third in 33.38.
Kenya's Faith Cherotich produced a world-leading time in the women's 3000m steeplechase. Cherotich stopped the clock at 9:02.60 to win for the second time in a row, over Olympic Games champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, who was second in a season best 9:02.76.
There was also a big performance at the meet for United States veteran Dalilah Muhammad, the former world record holder in the women's 400m hurdles. She won in a season best 53.34, which is the third fastest time this season among females.