Jackson hunts DL 200m lead.
SHERICKA JACKSON will be gunning for a win today in the women’s 200 metres in a bid to take the lead in the points standings as the fourth leg of the Diamond League (DL) series gets under way with the Rome Golden Gala.
Jackson is one of seven Jamaicans down to compete, and she will be hoping to improve on her season’s and personal best of 22.18 seconds. In Shanghai, Jackson finished third to Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas in 22.36 after being edged out on the line by Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, who clocked 22.34.
Today, Jackson’s biggest rival is Marie Josée Ta Lou of Côte d’Ivoire, the London World Championships silver medallist. The Jamaican, with six points, got the better of her rival in Shanghai and is tipped to do so again in the absence of Miller-Uibo (eight points) and Schippers (seven).
In the women’s 400m hurdles, American Dalilah Muhammad and Jamaica’s Janieve Russell will renew their rivalry in the nonDiamond League event. Both athletes have a win over the other this season, with the American winning in Shanghai in 53.77 seconds, just ahead of Russell’s 53.78. However, in Eugene last weekend, Russell got the win in 56.06, with Muhammad just behind in 56.09.
Danielle Williams, with a season’s best of 12.69 seconds, will face a very strong line-up in the women’s 100m hurdles. The field includes Brianna McNeal, Sharika Nelvis and Jasmine Stowers of the United States, who have been dominant in the event this season. McNeal is coming off a big win in Eugene, where she got the better of Nelvis in a very close affair – 12.50 seconds to 12. 52. She has a season’s best of 12.43 and looks good again for another Diamond League win.
Following her win at the Commonwealth Games, Jamaica’s Aisha Praught takes on a very strong line-up in the women’s 3000m steeplechase and will be hoping to improve on her season’s best of 9:21.00. World and Olympic champion Consesius Kipruto will be in the field.
MCPHERSON FOR 400M
In the women’s 400m, another non-Diamond League event, Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson will be hoping for a top-three finish in a race where Bahrain’s 20-year-old Salwa Ed Naser, the World Championships silver medallist, will be making her season debut. Fedrick Dacres in the discus and Tajay Gayle in the long jump are the other Jamaicans down to compete today. Dacres is coming off a win two days ago in Turnov, Czech Republic, where he threw 68.35m.
One of the feature races on the programme is the men’s 100m, where World Championships silver medallist Christan Coleman of the United States will renew battle with countryman Ronnie Baker. Baker clocked a wind-aided 9.78 in Eugene to take the event ahead of Coleman (9.84).