6 months ago
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OLYMPIC SILVER medallist Kishane Thompson said he now knows where he will need to improve as he opened his 2025 season in the men’s 100 metres, clocking 9.99 seconds to place second at the Shanghai Diamond League yesterday.
Thompson, who started best in the field, was narrowly edged at the line by current world leader Akani Simbine, of South Africa, who took the win in 9.98.
It was Simbine’s second consecutive win in the Diamond League series. Olympic 200-metre gold medallist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana was third in 10.03.
Rohan Watson, the other Jamaican in the field, crossed the line sixth in 10.18.
Thompson said while pleased with the performance, his intentions were to win on the day.
He now sees where he will need to improve, as he has been absent from the competitive circuit since the Paris Olympic Games last year.
“I’ve come to win in the beginning of the season and I am happy with the result. I have not been racing since Paris last year and I need the competition to position for the season,” he said after the race.
“I know what I need to work on after this race and I just need to move on quickly. Just focusing on executing perfectly, and same for the rest of the season,” he said.
Thompson declined to speak on his season’s targets at this point of his preparations but ensured there will be improvements on his execution as time goes by.
“I would not say too much at this moment for the target too early for the season, but, after the race, I can easily tell what I need to further work on and definitely we can do better and better.”
Danielle Williams also claimed a second-place finish in the 100-metre hurdles, stopping the clock in 12.55, behind the United States’ Grace Stark, who set a new meet record in 12.42.
Williams said she had some difficulties with the hurdles mid-race but was able to adjust and give a strong effort to finish second.
“The competition was pretty good, it was a strong one and I finished well. I had a pretty good start but, in the middle, it got a little bit difficult around hurdle eight, which threw me out a little bit, but I finished strongly,” she said.
Jordan Scott also finished second in the men’s triple jump, registering a mark of 17.00 metres. He was narrowly edged by Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo, who took the win in 17.03.
Scott’s second-place finish followed his winning performance at last week’s Diamond League.
“I won last week in Xiamen and, to get the second place today, I think is a strong start to the season. But also it puts pressure on the rest of the season,” he said.
His performances prove even more impressive as Scott has been without the guidance of his coach, which has caused some hiccups in his preparations and performances.
“I think not having my coach with me has been difficult this week. Having to make all the decisions by myself was tough,” said Scott.
“I will go back to training and keep improving my performance for the upcoming events.”
The Jamaican trio of Rasheed Broadbell, Hansle Parchment, and Orlando Bennett were left as bystanders as the United States’ Cordell Tinch set a new meet record, world lead, and the fourth fastest time ever in the 110-metre hurdles.
Tinch stopped the clock in 12.87 to lead the way, with Broadbell third in 13.24, Parchment sixth, in 13.32, and Bennett eighth, in 13.49.
English (US) ·