Jackson, Williams still in top form

WORLD CHAMPIONS Shericka Jackson and Danielle Williams scored good wins at yesterday’s Zurich Diamond League meet in Switzerland. Jackson continued to dominate rivals over 200 metres while Williams, like she did in Budapest, produced another flawless display to win the 100-metre hurdles.

Jackson’s job was made easier after the withdrawal of World Championships silver medallist Gabby Thomas of the United States. The Jamaican record holder and the fastest woman alive over the distance powered clear of her rivals early in the straight and kept pulling away to win in 21.82 seconds against a negative wind of 0.8 metres per second. Daryll Neita of Great Britain took second in 22.25. American Kayla White was third in 22.33.

After her personal best of 21.41 last week in winning at the World Championships, it wasn’t about time for Jackson yesterday.

“I can’t complain about the time,” Jackson said after the race. “I have two more races, my last one will be in Eugene. This full house is wonderful. I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot. I wanted to come out here and perform.”

Williams pulled off a big upset in the 100m hurdles final in Budapest but yesterday she proved her win was no fluke as she beat another strong field in Zurich. Budapest silver medallist Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico was a late withdrawal and was replaced by Jamaica’s Megan Tapper.

It was a blazing start for Williams who had a big lead up to the third barrier before maintaining her good form to win in 12.54 seconds. Alaysha Johnson of the United States was second in 12.58, just ahead of her countrywoman Kendra Harrison, the World Championships bronze medallist, who was third in 12.59. Tapper ended fifth in 12.64.

WONDERFUL FEELING

“It’s a wonderful feeling coming out here as a world champion,” Williams said after her win. “I have to give all the thanks for that.The race was a bit slower than I expected, but, you know what, I came out injury-free and with a win.” Williams added that she will celebrate her World Championships win after her final race of the season in Eugene.

There were second-place finishes at the meet for Jamaicans Natasha Morrison, Shanieka Ricketts and Tajay Gayle, while Elaine Thompson Herah and Adelle Tracey were third in their events.

In the women’s 100m, the newly crowned World Champion, Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States, cruised to an easy win, clocking 10.88 seconds. It was close between Morrison (second) and Thompson Herah (third), and both were awarded the same time of 11.00. The other Jamaican in the event, Shashalee Forbes, ended fifth in 11.12.

Ricketts improved on her fourth-place finish in Budapest in the women’s triple jump, with 14.78 metres. World champion Yulimer Rojas of Venezuela dominated the event to win with 15.15m, as Kimberly Williams of Jamaica had to settle for ninth with 13.75m.

Like he did at the World Championships, Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece used his final effort in the long jump to upstage another Jamaican. He produced a winning jump of 8.20m to displace leader Gayle, who ended second with 8.07m. Jarrian Lawson of the United States was third with 8.05m. Carey McLeod of Jamaica could only manage ninth, with 7.60m.

In the women’s 800 metres, World Championships finalist Tracey finished third in one minute 59.05 seconds. Natoya Goule-Toppin paid the penalty for going out too fast, where she clocked 56.47 metres at the 400m mark and finished eighth in 2:00.10. Great Britain’s Laura Muir won in 1:57.71.

There was no luck for Roshawn Clarke in his debut Diamond League 400m hurdles race. Clarke, who was fourth in the event a week ago in Budapest, did not finish the race, as he failed to negotiate the third barrier. World Championships silver medallist Kyron McMaster of British Virgin Islands won in 47.27 seconds to give Norway’s Karsten Warholm a rare defeat in the event. The world champion was second in 47.30, with Allison Dos Santos of Brazil third in 47.62.

World champion Noah Lyles won the men’s 200m to remain unbeaten in the event this season. Lyles, who won in 19.80, did not have things his own way, as he had to stave off a strong challenge from fellow American Erriyon Knighton. The 19-year-old Knighton took second in 19.87, with Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes third, in 19.94.