Smith to challenge Ricketts dominance

AFTER DOMINATING the women’ triple jump at the PUMA JAAA National Junior and Senior Championships (Trials) for the past decade, defending and many-time champion, Shanieka Ricketts, will be under tremendous pressure when she contests the event at this week’s event.

The two-time World Athletics Championships silver medallist in the event will be in a ‘dog fight’ with Ackelia Smith, who was second a year ago.

After going over the 15-metre barrier for the first time in her career last year with a personal best of 15.03 at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Ricketts, who was fourth in Budapest, has not been at her best this season.

Ricketts has, so far, only managed 14.58 metres, doing so at a World Continental Tour meet in Europe.

Smith is just six centimetres behind Ricketts, producing a personal best, 14.52, to win the NCAA Championships for the University of Texas.

With four-time World and defending Olympic champion, Yulimer Rojas of Venezuela, missing this season after surgery on her left Achilles tendon, both Jamaicans could be in contention for a medal at the Games.

Ricketts is ranked fifth in the world, while Smith is seventh.