12 J’cans for Birmingham Diamond League
FOLLOWING ON from the recently concluded IAAF World Championships in London, 12 Jamaican athletes will compete over four events in the Diamond League in Birmingham today.
Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson, who had a disappointing time at the World Championships in London, where she failed to medal, will headline the Jamaican contingent. She will feel that she has a lot to prove as she was in good form coming into the World Championships.
Jura Levy and Natasha Morrison, who were both members of the quartet that won bronze in the 4x100m in London, will join her in the 100m. Christania Williams, who also won bronze as part of the relay squad (she ran in the heats), will also be part of the team. Schillonie Calvert-Powell will also be competing in this event. There will be two heats. The final is set for 11:08 a.m. (Ja time).
GOOD QUARTER-MILERS
Jamaica, over the years, has had good quarter-milers and will have three representatives in the women’s 400m in Birmingham. Shericka Jackson and Novlene Williams-Mills, who placed fifth and eighth, respectively, in the final at the World
Championships, will be joined by Chrisann Gordon. The three Jamaicans will line up alongside the American gold and bronze medallists from London, Phyllis Francis and Allyson Felix.
World Championships bronze medallist Ristananna Tracey and Janieve Russell will line up in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Kimberley Williams and Shanieka Thomas-Ricketts will both compete in the triple jump. Although they reached the final of London 2017, they both failed to win a medal and would be looking to set the record straight here. Williams, who is in second place in this Diamond League event, will be looking to gain more points, which could take her to the top and, possibly, win the event.