Russell impresses in Lausanne
THERE WERE no wins at yesterday’s Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland for Jamaican athletes, but there were second-place finishes for Janieve Russell, who posted a big personal best, and Elaine Thompson, and a third-place finish for Shericka Jackson.
Olympic and World champion sprint hurdler Omar McLeod finished in mid pack in his event for the second time in the week.
The performance by Russell, the Commonwealth Games 400-metre hurdles gold medallist was the best for the Jamaicans, as she produced a personal best of 53.46 seconds for her second-place finish behind the United States, Shamier Little, who won in a close finish in a season best 53.41 seconds with her countrywoman, Georganna Moline, also producing a season best of 53.90 seconds for a third-place finish.
WELL-CONTROLLED RACE
Russell ran a well-controlled race as early leader, Dalilah Muhammad, the Olympic champion, as usual went out very fast but paid the price by the time she reached the halfway stage and it was left to Russell and Little in the end, as both came off the final barrier simultaneously. Russell took a slight lead close to the finish, but Little made a late surge to pip her for the win.
Thompson had to settle for second, behind MarieJosee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast. It was a good start for Ta Lou, 10.90, as the slow-starting Thompson had to make up too much ground and despite running on strongly in the end, had to settle for the runner-up spot in 10.99 seconds with Jenna Prandini taking third in 11.00.
Following her personal best to win the 200 metres in Paris last Saturday, Jackson failed to reproduce that form yesterday and had to settle for third in 22.84 seconds, as the United States’ Gabrielle Thomas won the event in 22.47 seconds.
After his sixth-place finish in the Men’s 110-metre hurdles on Monday at the Hungary Grand Prix Meet, McLeod was hoping to get back on winning ways yesterday, but this was not to be as he had to settle for fifth in 13.41 seconds.
Sergey Shubenkov, for the second time in the week went under 13 seconds, winning the event in 12.95 seconds, ahead of Devon Allen of the United States second in 13.29 seconds with the Frenchman, Pascal Lagarde Martinot taking third in 13.41 seconds.