World record last dance highlights Jamaican entrants

SHERICKA JACKSON’S world record push and double Diamond League title attempt will be the highlight of the eight Jamaicans on show at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon today.

One of those eight, Danielle Williams, will be hoping to end her season on a high when she competes in the women’s 100m hurdles at 4:05 p.m.

Williams, who scored one of the biggest upsets at the Budapest World Championships to win the women’s 100 metres hurdles, her second in eight years, will take on another stacked field.

Today, Williams will face Budapest silver and bronze medallists, Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico and Kendra Harrison of the United States. Defending Diamond League champion Tobi Amusan, of Nigeria, who finished out of the medals in Budapest, will also contest the event. Countrywoman Megan Tapper will also join Williams.

At 3:52 p.m., defending champion Grant Holloway of the United States and Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment, gold and silver medallists in Budapest, will square off over the 110 metres hurdles.

Tajay Gayle will be the first Jamaican in action today when he competes in the men’s long jump event at 1:40 p.m.

With a thinner than usual field, Gayle, a bronze medallist in Budapest, could walk away with his first Diamond League trophy. With gold medallist and defending Diamond League champion, Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou, and silver medallist Wayne Pinnock out, Gayle’s main threat will come from Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer.

World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton and Janieve Russell will contest the women’s 400 metres hurdles at 3:04 p.m. in a race expected to be dominated by the Netherlands’ Femke Bol. World Championships silver medallist Shamier Little, of the United States, is also in the line-up.

Candice McLeod will contest the women’s 400 metres at 3:37 p.m., while Natoya Goule will go to the line in the women’s 800 metres at 4:49 p.m.