Parchment, Ricketts warm up for Eugene with wins in Croatia

HANSLE PARCHMENT and Shanieka Ricketts warmed up for this weekend’s Diamond League finals in Eugene, Oregon, with wins in their events yesterday in Croatia.

Competing at the final World Continental Gold Tour series in Zagreb, Parchment, the World Championships 110m hurdles silver medallist, clocked 13.13 seconds to take the event ahead of World Championships bronze medallist Daniel Roberts of the United States, who finished a close second in 13.15. Wilheim Belocian of France was third in 13.30.

Following her personal best 15.01m in the triple jump two days ago at the Brussels Diamond League, Ricketts made it three wins in five days. Her winning effort of 14.53m came on her first attempt. Dariya Darkach of Italy was second with 14.07m, with Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams third with 13.70m.

There were second-place finishes at the meet for three other Jamaicans. Candice McLeod, Oblique Seville, and Fedrick Dacres took the runner-up spots in their respective events.

McLeod, a 4x400m silver medallist in Budapest, came close to her first win on the circuit in the women’s 400m but had to settle for second in 50.94 seconds. She was edged out for the win by Laviai Nielsen of Great Britain, who won in 50.93. Sharlene Mawdsley of Ireland was third in a personal best 51.09.

After two wins in a row over Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya in the 100m, the Kenyan turned the tables this time on Jamaica’s Seville. Seville led for the majority of the race but was overtaken by Omanyala close to the finish. The Kenyan won in 9.94 seconds and Seville was second in 10.07. Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy was third in 10.08. National champion Rohan Watson was seventh in 10.32.

World Championships discus finalist Dacres picked up his second-place finish after a throw of 66.54m. Kristjan Ceh of Slovakia won with 68.48m with Matthew Denny of Australia third with 65.25m.

Sprint hurdler Amoi Brown was fourth in the 100m hurdles after clocking 12.78 seconds. World Championships silver medallist Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico won the event in a meet record 12.47. Nadine Visser of the Netherlands was second in 12.64, and Pia Skrzyszowska of Poland was third in 12.73.

Competing in the men’s 200m Michael Campbell was eighth in 21.24 seconds. American Kyree King won in 20.10.

On Saturday at the same meet, Tajay Gayle took second in the men’s long jump with 8.07m, and Rajindra Campbell was 10th in the men’s shot put with 21.24m.