TOTAL DOMINANCE - Jamaican women sweep Rabat Diamond League 100m

Jamaica athletes swept the podium in the women's 100 metres at yesterday's Diamond League meet in Rabat, Morocco. 

    World Athletics Championships silver medallist Tina Clayton won the event in an impressive season's best 10.85 seconds, the third-fastest time in the world  this year and the second-fastest by a Jamaican woman in the event behind collegiate athlete Shanese Walker's 10.80.

Breakout female sprinter this season, Lavanya Williams, continued her good form  with a fine performance for second in her Diamond League debut. She clocked a  personal best 10.95, while  Jonielle Smith closed out the podium sweep by crossing the line in 11.00.

Clayton was naturally pleased with her win and season's best.

"I think it was a solid performance overall. I am happy with the result, especially because I managed to get a season's best which shows I am heading in the right direction. However, I still need to fix a few things. The biggest challenge I face is the level of competition, especially when you line up against strong athletes. Everyone is there to win, so you really have to be at your best. The crowd was fantastic, I really enjoyed the energy and the support from the fans. Looking ahead, my main goal for the remainder of the season is to stay healthy and keep improving," said Clayton.

After a sub-par performance by her standards a week earlier at the LA Fest meet, Williams returned to her best yesterday and she too was delighted with her performance.

"It was my first Diamond League and I am really happy with my execution, there is more to come. Training is going very well, now I need to understand each phase of the race and get better. I am still very young so I am enjoying myself. The crowd was wonderful," said Williams, who stated that she does not know what competition is next for her.

  Shericka Jackson did not  compete in the 200m. American Cambrea Sturgis  stormed to her first Diamond League win in 22.21 seconds.  Kayla White, also of the USA, was second in 22.28.

   Jamaica's Rushell Clayton also had a top-three finish at the meet.  She placed  third in the 400m hurdles in 53.75 seconds, while country woman Andrenette Knight finished ninth with 55.37. Competing for the first time this season, Slovakia's Emma Zapletalova won the event in a world-leading and national record of 52.82,  while World Championships silver medallist Anna Cockrell of the United States finished second in 53.18.

High jumper Lamara Distin was fifth with a best jump of 1.91 metres, while in the women's 100m hurdles Kerrica Hill finished ninth in a season's best 12.71 seconds. Tobi Amusan of Nigeria won the event in a season's best and meet record of 12.28, ahead of Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas. Charlton clocked 12.40, while Nadine Visser of the Netherlands finished third in a season's best 12.47.

Rajindra Campbell failed to follow up on his heroics of a week ago in Xiamen where he won the men's shot put with a national record.  Yesterday, he had to settle for seventh with 21.04 metres.  Americans  dominated as Joe Kovacs won with a meet record and world leading 22.58m. Ryan Crouser was second with a season's best 21.59m and Jordan Geist third with 21.56m.

    World Championships 200m bronze medallist Bryan Levell, finished ninth in the men's 200 metres in 20.44 seconds. American Kenneth Bednarek clocked a season's best and meet record of 19.69 seconds for the win, ahead of World champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. Tebogo  was second in a season's best of 19.96,  while Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa finished third in 20.03.