Distin, Robinson Secure Jamaican Podium Places At Paavo Nurmi Games

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Lamara Distin and Nia Robinson both earned top-three finishes on Wednesday at the 2026 Paavo Nurmi Games, the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet staged in Turku, Finland.

Distin claimed second place in the women’s high jump after clearing 1.94m. Robinson took third in the women’s long jump, producing an outdoor season-best 6.61m with a following wind of 1.4m/s.

Jamaica also had four fifth-place finishes at the meet. Assinie Wilson ended fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles, Roje Stona was fifth in the men’s discus throw, Ackelia Smith placed fifth in the women’s long jump, and Danniel Thomas-Dodd took fifth in the women’s shot put.

Distin was sharp through most of the high jump competition, going over five heights at the first time of asking. She held the advantage before missing all three tries at 1.97m.

Ukraine’s Yulia Levchenko recovered from a difficult start to win the event. She needed three attempts at her opening height of 1.78m, two attempts at 1.94m, and three more at 1.97m before securing victory.

Robinson opened the long jump competition with two fouls, then got a mark of 6.58m with a 1.2m/s wind. She improved in the fifth round to 6.61m, with the wind reading 1.4m/s.

Smith’s best effort was 6.53m, aided by a 1.3m/s wind, for fifth place. American Monae’ Nichols won with 6.88m in a 0.7m/s wind, while Great Britain’s Jasmin Sawyers finished second with a season-best 6.62m, helped by a 1.1m/s wind.

Wilson entered the men’s 400m hurdles with the quickest time among the field but finished fifth in 48.98 seconds. Slovenia’s Matic Gucek won in 48.47, Great Britain’s Alastair Chalmers was second in 48.53, and Botswana’s Kemorena Tisang took third in 48.66.

In the men’s discus, Stona recorded 66.15m. Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh won with 69.13m, ahead of Sweden’s Daniel Stahl, who threw 67.40m, and Australia’s world leader Matt Denny, who placed third with 67.26m.

Thomas-Dodd’s best throw in the women’s shot put was 18.78m. American Chase Jackson dominated with 20.66m, beating Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands, who threw 20.18m, and Canada’s Sarah Mitton, who reached 19.47m.