Sprint hurdler Nugent shines in Diamond League

Rising sprint hurdles star Ackera Nugent was the top Jamaican performer at yesterday’s Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Wanda Diamond League meet in Poland.

Nugent won the 100 metres hurdles in a meet record 12.29 seconds in one of three wins for Jamaican athletes. The 22-year-old broke the meet record twice. In the semi-finals, she advanced with the fastest time of 12.30, well under the old meet record of 12.34.

In the final, she was out of the blocks very fast to dominate the event for a convincing win. Grace Stark of the United States was second in 12.37, and Jamaica’s Danielle Williams was third in 12.38.

Nugent revealed after the race that she was just getting used to running on the circuit in her first season as a professional.

“This is my first season competing as a professional athlete, and I feel grateful to compete against these great ladies. I am just getting used to running on the circuit. I did not expect to win. On the other hand, I knew I had to execute well and do everything under my control,” said an elated Nugent.

Young sprinter Tia Clayton and triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts also picked up wins. Following a fifth -place finish in her Diamond League debut in Lausanne last Thursday, Clayton bounced back in style to capture the 100m in a wind-aided (2.9 mps) 10.83 seconds.

Clayton was off to a flying start and showed good top-end speed to hold on from Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith of Cote d’Ivoire, who was awarded the same time in second. Tamari Davis of the United States was third in 10.84.

Clayton stated that she was determined to do her best coming into the event.

“Coming into the race I had no specific expectations. After the Olympics, I trained even harder than before. I did not go back home to Jamaica as I stayed in Italy. I am still in great shape, and I intend to race a couple more times before the season is over,” Clayton said.

Ricketts, the Olympic Games triple jump silver medallist, picked up her first Diamond League win of the season. She produced a best of 14.50m to finish ahead of Leyanis Hernandez Perez of Cuba (14.40m). Ackelia Smith was fifth with 13.78m.

“It took a while to adjust after the Olympics because that was the main target for me this year. I accomplished what I wanted in Paris so training has been hard, mentally. I was able to jump a decent distance tonight, so I am glad I managed to get the win,” said Ricketts.

Rasheed Broadbell and Romaine Beckford had second-place finishes at the meet, and Rushell Clayton and Ackeem Blake were third in their events.

Grant Holloway of the United States rebounded from his second-place finish in Lausanne to turn the tables on Broadbell in the 110m hurdles. Holloway won in 13.04 seconds, with Broadbell second in a season’s best 13.05. Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett was fifth in 13.35.

Beckford cleared a personal best 2.29m as he ended second in the men’s high jump to Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, who won with 2.31m.

Clayton was third in the women’s 400m hurdles in 53.11 seconds. Shiann Salmon, 53.15, Janieve Russell, 53.59, and Andrenette Knight, 53.68, ended fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. Femke Bol of the Netherlands won in a meet record 52.13, with American Anna Cockrell finishing second in 52.88.

Blake equalled his personal best of 9.89 in the 100m. American Kerley won in a meet record 9.87, ahead of Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya (9.88). Olympic Games silver medallist Kishane Thompson was a late scratch from the event.

Roshawn Clarke was fourth in the 400m hurdles in 47.74, and Natoya Goule-Toppin was fifth in the women’s 1,000 metres in 2:34.37. Rajindra Campbell, the Olympic Games bronze medallist, was eighth in the shot put with 20.78m.