Jackson, Broadbell set records at Rabat Diamond League
WORLD champion Shericka Jackson and Commonwealth Games record holder Rasheed Broadbell both set meet records in their respective events at Sunday’s Meeting International Mohammed VI d’athletisme de Rabat, the second stop on the Wanda Diamond League.
Jackson produced what could be a preview of what was to come later in the season with a dominant win in the women’s 200m at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, running a season’s best 21.98 seconds (0.8m/s).
Broadbell came from behind to edge two-time world champion Grant Holloway to win the 110m hurdles in 13.08 seconds (-1.3m/s).
Rushell Clayton was second in the women’s 400m hurdles, while there were third-place finishes for triple jumper Shanice Ricketts and men’s 400m runner Rusheen Mcdonald.
In the 200m, Jackson had an ordinary start and came off the curve just behind American teenager Tamari Davis, but took over the race and powered home to shatter the 22.29s meet record set in 2018 by Shaunae Miller-uibo of The Bahamas.
Kingston-based Antonique Strachan was second in a personal best 22.15, while Davis set a lifetime best 22.30 seconds for third place.
After two recalls that were determined to be ‘faulty starts’, Broadbell, who trailed Holloway midway the race, took charge at the final barrier and just beat the American to the finish line.
The time beat David Oliver’s 13.12 set in 2016, the time run by Holloway. Olympic champion Hansle Parchment was third in 13.24, his season’s best.
“I am happy about how I performed today. I am pleased to get this win. I managed to get this victory by being focused during the race,” Broadbell said afterwards.
“My goal this year is to execute well. I would like to thank the crowd here for being supportive and fantastic. I am getting ready for the world championship by staying healthy and in good shape.”
A trio of Jamaicans were second, third and fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles that was won by American Shamier Little in 53.95, with all eight athletes recording season’s best times.
Clayton was second in 54.15. Shiann Salmon, who had a strong second half of the race but clipped the final hurdle, was third in 54.42 and Janieve Russell was fourth in 55.41.
National record holder Mcdonald ran a strong second half to place third in the men’s 400m, clocking 45.55 behind the winner Steven Gardner of The Bahamas who ran 44.70. American Vernon Norwood timed 45.11.
Ricketts had a season best 14.53m (1.0m/s) for third in the triple jump that was won in a personal best and world leading 14.84m (1.1m/s) by Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez. Maryna Bekhromanchuk of the Ukraine took second with a season’s best 14.65m (1.8m/s).
Another Jamaican, Kimberly Williams, finished ninth with 13.04m (-0.3m/s).
Yohan Blake was sixth in the men’s 100m, running a season’s best 10.18 (0.1m/s). American World champion Fred Kerley ran a meet record 9.94 to beat South African Akani Simbine (9.99) and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05).
Natoya Goule was fourth in the women’s 800m in a season’s best 2:00.91 minutes as Kenya’s Mary Moraa won with her season’s best 1:58.72 ahead of Canada’s Catriona Bisset (2:00.11) and America Sage Hurta-klecker (2:00.62).