Jackson strolls, Hibbert strong in debut
Published:Saturday | July 22, 2023 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
World 200 metres champion Shericka Jackson says she is satisfied with maintaining her unbeaten run this season over the half-lap distance as she highlighted a strong day for Jamaicans at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Monaco yesterday.
Internationally, the day also saw another world record for Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon.
Jackson eased to victory over a quality field in the 200m clocking 21.85 seconds while newly signed Puma athlete Julien Alfred of St Lucia was second in 22.08. Former world champion Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain was third in a season’s best time of 22.23. Jackson bested United States champion and fastest woman in the world this year, American Gabby Thomas, who finished seventh in 22.67.
Jackson, who completed her third race in the space of six days, said she was encouraged to be able to produce a 21-second performance in spite of the loaded schedule and the intense workout the day before.
“I have had three competitions in a week, so it is a bit hard for me. I do not think that the curve was as good as I wanted but I managed to go until the finish, so it was good. I have one more coming up, so I am glad I finished this one healthy,” Jackson said. “I had a hard training session yesterday (Thursday) and still I was able to run 21, so that is good. I want to make sure I am on top of my shape in Budapest.”
Jackson ends her loaded schedule in London tomorrow, the final Diamond League meet before the Budapest World Championships and is looking to clean up her technique to get herself ready.
TRAINING FOR THIS
“I am here, I keep training and keep competing. Honestly, the curve was hard enough. I have to go back to the training for this. I am healthy and I am happy to be here as I enjoy running,” Jackson said.
World Under-20 triple jump champion Jaydon Hibbert had a strong performance in his Diamond League debut finishing in second with 17.66 metres. World championships silver medallist Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso needed a final jump to take the win from Hibbert with 17.70m. Hibbert said that while it was difficult to get into his groove, he was happy with what he displayed in his first competition in Europe.
“I think I did really well today. I came in with a little cramp, so it was kind of hard to get into my zone. But I came out with second place and I am really grateful,” Hibbert said.
NCAA outdoor long jump champion Ackelia Smith (6.70m) placed seventh in her Diamond League debut, an event that was won by Italy’s Larissa Iapichino with a personal best effort of 6.95m.
In the men’s 100m, Ackeem Blake finished third in 10.00 with Yohan Blake equalling his season’s best of 10.01 for fourth. Kishane Thompson was fifth in 10.04. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala won the race in 9.92 with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo coming in second in 9.93.
World and Olympic 1500m champion Kipyegon added another world record to her stellar season, winning the women’s mile in a new mark of 4:07.64. It was a race where all but one athlete achieved a personal best. Kipyegon smashed the previous mark of 4:12.33 set by Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands in 2019. That record was also set in Monaco.