‘I knew I had a big one’

JAMAICAN TRIPLE jumper Jordan Scott achieved a new personal best in the men’s triple jump, his 17.27 metres leading him to the top of the podium at the Xiamen Diamond League yesterday.

Scott got the better of World Indoors silver medallist Zhu Yaming of China, 17.03, and American Donald Scott, 16.85.

Scott erased his previous personal best of 17.14 which he had set in January.

The triple jumper was a figure of gratitude after the event, expressing pleasure at competing against several of the top names in the sport.

“I am so grateful to come out here and compete against the best of the best. Going out there, that was really good. I’m grateful to be honest,” he said.

Scott had a rocky start to the competition, fouling his first two jumps but quickly found his groove, registering 16.58 on his third attempt, right before his mammoth effort of 17.27.

He would close out the series by breaking the 17-metre barrier once again, leaping to 17.02.

“I think it took a little bit of adjusting. I fouled the first two and got the safe one in for the third. Based on how the third one felt, I knew I had a big one in there so it was more just figuring out the little adjustments that needed to be made,” he explained.

Scott believes his best is yet to come.

“I’m very proud of myself for getting it together but I do not think it is all the way there yet. We will look at the film and revisit the film, and figure out what we can do better for next week.”

Scott was not the only Jamaican who caught the headlines at the Xiamen Diamond League meet as Shericka Jackson made her highly anticipated return to the women’s 200 metres.

Jackson, the national record holder, ran a comfortable 22.79 seconds to finish second in her event.

America’s Anavia Battle took the win in 22.41 with her compatriot Jenna Prandini taking third in 22.97.

It was Jackson’s first race in the half-lap event since July last year after her disastrous run at the Gyulai István Memorial track meet where she hobbled across the finish line, injured.

“I am happy that I finished this race healthily. I will have to check with my coach where I can do better next time,” Jackson said.

Danielle Williams showed up big in the women’s 100-metre hurdles, winning in a season’s best 12.53.

She bested United States’ Grace Stark, 12.58, and South Africa’s Marione Fourie, 12.62.

“The focus was on the last half of the race, trying to finish strong. I think I did that, so I am satisfied,” Williams said after the race.

Wayne Pinnock and Tajay Gayle finished fifth and eighth in the men’s long jump respectively, Pinnock setting a best mark of 8.06 ahead of Gayle’s best effort of 7.90.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com