Britany Anderson followed up her third place finish in Poland earlier this week with a victory in the 60m hurdles at the ISTAF Indoor Meeting in Berlin on Friday.
Anderson, the 2022 World Championships 100m hurdles silver medalist, was a model of consistency this week as after running 7.83 in Torun, she clocked 7.87 to win her preliminary round heat before winning the final in 7.85 ahead of Australia’s Michelle Jenneke, who ran a personal best 7.89 for second place.
Natalia Christophi of Cyprus was third in 8.01.
In the men’s equivalent, Olympian Damion Thomas ran a season-best 7.65 to finish second in a close battle with Great Britain’s David King, who ran 7.63 for the win.
Paolo Dal Molin of Italy was a close third in 7.69.
Reece Prescod of Great Britain won the 60m dash in a meet record 6.49, which was also a personal best. He held off the challenge of German duo of Joshua Hartmann, who clocked a personal best 6.53 and Julian Wagner (6.56) for second and third, respectively.
Great Britain’s Daryll Neita continued her good form this season with a lifetime best 7.05 to win the Women’s 60m dash.
Tristan Evelyn of Barbados ran a national record and personal best 7.14 to claim the runner-up spot ahead of Germany’s Gina Luckenkemper, who finished third in 7.16.
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Shiann Salmon returns to her roots to rediscover her best with stunning win in Zurich
Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon has rediscovered her best form after returning to train at home, and it’s paying off in spectacular fashion. Salmon, who has been a consistent force in the 400m hurdles this season, clocked a lifetime best of 52.97 seconds to win her first-ever Diamond League race in Zurich last Friday. This remarkable achievement not only secured her spot among the elite but also marked a significant personal milestone, as she became just the fifth Jamaican woman in history to break the 53-second barrier in the event.
After graduating from Hydel High and spending a year at GC Foster College, Salmon ventured overseas to train with Tonja Buford, a US Olympic medalist turned coach. However, after a few seasons in the United States, Salmon felt the American environment was making her "soft" and unmotivated, which led to her bold decision last season to return to Jamaica to train under renowned coach Maurice Wilson at the Sprintec Track Club.
“I don’t feel as if I ever needed to ‘justify’ doing something that I felt was for my best interest. However, I felt like the American lifestyle/system was never meant for me. I think I got a bit complacent and soft, so I returned to my roots,” Salmon explained.
That decision has clearly paid off. Salmon has shown remarkable consistency this season, first setting a lifetime best of 53.13 in the Olympic final in Paris and consistently racing close to that mark in the lead-up to Zurich. But in Zurich, she finally broke through the elusive 53-second barrier, achieving her goal for the season.
“I was thrilled. My overall aim for the remainder of the season was to break the 53 seconds barrier, so I was beyond happy when I realized that I had done so,” Salmon said. “I’m currently the fifth Jamaican woman to do so. I feel exhilarated, top 5 all-time is a big accomplishment and I’m grateful.”
Reflecting on her performances before Zurich, Salmon felt her breakthrough was imminent. “Yes, I definitely felt it coming. My body is now used to running low 53s. My coach and I already predicted it, it was just a matter of me executing the races properly,” she shared.
Only four other Jamaican women—Deon Hemmings, Melaine Walker, Kaliese Spencer, and Rushell Clayton—have ever broken the 53-second mark in the 400m hurdles. Now, Salmon joins that exclusive club, cementing her status as one of the best in the world.
Looking ahead, Salmon is focused on finishing her season on a high. She will contest the Diamond League final in Brussels, with her sights set on another sub-53 performance. “My ultimate aim is to finish the season with another 52 performance. Anything else that comes with that is a bonus,” Salmon concluded.
With her decision to return to Jamaica proving to be the right move, Salmon’s resurgence has her poised to continue breaking barriers and reaching new heights in the 400m hurdles.
Olympic medallist Rajindra Campbell breaks own Jamaican shot-put record in Zagreb
Jamaican shot putter Rajindra Campbell made more history at the Ivan Ivancic Memorial in Zagreb on Saturday.
The 28-year-old, who became the first Jamaican to medal in a throws event at the Olympic Games with his bronze medal in Paris, established a new national record of 22.31m to finish third at Saturday’s meet behind American Olympic and World champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser who threw a meet record 22.93m to win and Payton Otterdahl who threw 22.46m in second.
Campbell opened his competition with 21.05m before going down to 20.61m in the second round.
He then signaled his intent for a big throw with 21.56m in round three before unleashing his national record-breaking throw in round four.
He fouled his next two attempts which didn’t matter as no one else was able to eclipse his mark.
Campbell broke his own previous national record 22.22m done in Madrid last year.
Clarke pleased with first Diamond League win; hoping for personal best at Diamond League final in Brussels
Jamaican World under-20 400m record holder Roshawn Clarke is pleased after securing his first win on the Diamond League circuit in Zurich on Thursday.
The former Camperdown High star produced a fast 47.49 to take the win ahead of Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.58) and Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.02).
Thursday was Clarke’s fourth Diamond League appearance. He made his debut on the circuit at last year’s edition of the Zurich Diamond League on August 31, 2023.
“It means a lot because I came out here trying to get myself into the Diamond League final so I was trying to rack up as much points as possible and I came out with the win,” he said in a post-race interview with Citius Mag.
“I’m very pleased with my first Diamond League win and it came in Zurich. What better place?”
The 20-year-old was a finalist at the Olympic Games in Paris but unfortunately failed to finish after clipping the eighth then smashing into the ninth hurdle while in a battle with Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos for the bronze medal.
Clarke spoke about using that disappointment as motivation to finish out the season on a strong note.
“Strong-minded. I had disappointment in Paris and that has kept me pushing to make myself even better,” he said.
“I want to come back stronger. I did not finish in the final at the Olympics so I use that as motivation to keep my season going,” he added.
Speaking of finishing out the season strong, Clarke’s winning time on Thursday is the second fastest time of his young career, bettered only by his national record and world junior record 47.34 which he ran in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Budapest last year.
Running a time that fast at this stage of the season on the back of that disappointment in Paris is a sign of Clarke’s mental fortitude that should see him being a medal threat in the event for a long time.
Clarke’s mind will now shift to the Diamond League final in Brussels from September 13 to 14.
“My goal is to go out there, run my race, run as best as possible and try to come out with a personal best in my last race for the season,” he said.
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