Megan Simmonds Wins 100m Hurdles As Jamaicans Collect Six Podium Finishes In Rome

Megan Simmonds produced Jamaica’s standout performance at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond League meeting in Rome, Italy, taking the 100m hurdles in a season-best 12.50 seconds.

She was the only Jamaican winner on a day when the country’s athletes enjoyed several strong results. Kendra Harrison, the former world record holder from the United States, finished second in 12.52, with the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser third in 12.58. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams also posted a season’s best, running 12.69 for sixth.

Simmonds said the victory was “a good result” after the race.

“It is quite a good result. I wanted to run faster, but the season is long, so we are taking it step by step and day by day. This season is for my fans. Always when I step to the start line, I think I have 10 opportunities to do well and show what I am capable of. This is who I am. Early in my career, the surroundings took me away from who I am, but going to Tokyo last year and training in a fantastic group, I came back to who I am. I am excited and I am winning races. There is no better feeling. I am living a dream right now,” she said.

Jamaica ended the meet with six top-three placings overall, made up of one win, two runner-up finishes and four third-place efforts.

Orlando Bennett, the World Championships silver medallist in the 110m hurdles, claimed second in 13.31. The race went to American Trey Cunningham, who ran a meet record, personal best and world-leading 12.98. Spain’s Enrique Llopis was third in 13.32.

In the men’s triple jump, Jordan Scott gave Jamaica another second-place result with 17.33m, while Jaydon Hibbert finished third with 17.02m. Cuba’s Andy Hernandez Diaz won the event with a season-best 17.59m.

Romaine Beckford added a third-place finish in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.23m. Raymond Richards was seventh with 2.20m.

National champion Nickisha Pryce placed third in the women’s 400m in 49.80 seconds. Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands won in a season-best 49.60.

Rushell Clayton also made the podium, finishing third in the women’s 400m hurdles in a season-best 53.14 seconds. Slovakia’s Emma Zapletova took victory in a world-leading national record of 52.58, while American Anna Cockrell was second in a season-best 52.77.

Among the other Jamaicans in action, Rajindra Campbell was fifth in the shot put with 21.39m. Tajay Gayle finished fourth in the long jump with 8.04m, and Wayne Pinnock was eighth with 7.74m.

There were major sprint victories as well for St Lucia’s Julien Alfred and American Noah Lyles.

Alfred, the world leader in the women’s 200m, won that event in 21.93 seconds. United States world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden opened her season with 22.17 for second, and American Anavia Battle was third in 22.39.

Lyles, the World Championships bronze medallist, ran a season-best 9.88 seconds in the men’s 100m, the second-fastest time in the world this year. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme took second in 9.94, with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo third in 9.95. Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake finished seventh in 10.06.