Mullings maintains red-hot form with discus win in Brussels

NATIONAL RECORD holder Ralford Mullings continued his red-hot form in the men’s discus yesterday as he powered to victory at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme Wanda Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium – the final stop in the series before next week’s grand finale in Zurich, Switzerland.

Fresh off his impressive personal best throw and record throw of 72.01 metres a week earlier in Ramona, Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma student, competing in his first Diamond League, threw 69.66m to claim victory. He got the better of a strong field and earned Jamaica’s only Diamond League success on the day. World record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania was second with 68.82m, while Kristjan Ceh of Slovakia finished third with 67.13m. Olympic champion Roje Stona placed seventh with 65.67m.

Mullings was ecstatic after his big performance.

“It’s my first-ever Diamond League victory. I didn’t throw over 70 metres, but it is always good to be on the podium. Whatever it takes to be there, I am satisfied with that. This was my first competition in Europe and it was interesting – something you have to get used to with the travel and acclimatisation,” he said.

There was another Jamaican win on the day but this came outside the Diamond League programme. In the men’s 400m Invitational, defending world champion Antonio Watson produced a season’s best 44.89 seconds to secure victory. Belgium’s Dylan Borlée was second in a personal best 44.94, with his countryman Jonathan Dacoor third in 45.39.

In what was his final outing before the World Athletics Championships in Japan, Watson was pleased.

“It was a great race. The guys got out quickly, just like we said before the start. I knew what I had to do and I’m glad I got in another race,” he shared.

On a day when most Jamaicans struggled, high jumper Romaine Beckford turned in the next best performance as he cleared 2.22m to place placing third. Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine won with 2.25m, the same height cleared by Belgium’s Carmoy Thomas, who finished second on countback.

Veteran Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continued to find the going tough on the European circuit. After a less than ideal start in the women’s 100m, she never recovered and had to settle for fourth in 11.17 seconds. World number one, American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, maintained her unbeaten run with 10.76. Defending world champion Sha’Carri Richardson finished second in 11.08, while Great Britain’s Daryll Neita was third in 11.15.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Andrenette Knight was fourth in 54.50. The USA’s Anna Cockrell won in 53.66, ahead of Panama’s Gianna Woodruff who ran a personal best 53.89. Belgium’s Naomi Van Den Broeck was third in a national record 54.12.

In the women’s triple jump, national champion and Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts finished fourth with 14.29m. Ackelia Smith placed seventh with 13.97m. Cuba swept the top two spots – world leader Leyanis Pérez Hernández winning with 14.78m, followed by Davisleydi Velazco with a personal best 14.72m. USA’s Jasmine Moore claimed third with 14.38m.

In the women’s shot put, Danniel Thomas-Dodd was fifth with 18.92m. The USA’s Chase Jackson won with 20.90m, ahead of Canada’s Sarah Mitton, who was second with 19.89m.