Clunis, who represented Jamaica at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, broke the previous national record of 71.48m set back in 2016 by Daina Levy.
The 28-year-old started her series on Saturday with a 69.51m effort in the first round before producing 71.13m, 70.01m, 70.20m and 70.38m in the next four rounds.
She then uncorked her national record-breaking throw in the sixth and final round, finishing sixth overall in the competition.
Her best throw prior to Saturday was 71.18m done in Canada last year.
American Brooke Andersen threw 79.92m to win and was followed by China’s Jie Zhao (74.10m) and American Annette Echikunwoke (73.80m).
Elsewhere, 2019 World Championship silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.87m to win the women’s shot put ahead of Americans Adelaide Aquilla (18.47m) and Jessica Ramsey (18.34m).
Rajindra Campbell threw 21.69m for second in the men’s equivalent behind American Payton Otterdahl (22.41m). Mexico’s Uziel Munoz threw 21.68m for third.
The men’s discus throw saw 2019 World Championship runner-up Fedrick Dacres produce 64.07m for third behind the American pair Reggie Jagers (64.25m) and Joseph Brown (64.57m).
The 25-year-old Lawrence, who set the national record of 65.05m in May 2019, while she was a student at Colorado State University, uncorked throws of 65.47m and then 67.05m on her fourth and fifth throws, respectively, of the competition.
Notwithstanding the world-class throws, she was beaten by Jorinde van Klinken of the Netherlands, who produced a world-leading 70.22 in snatching victory.
Kelsey Card of the United States was the other podium finisher having thrown 63.18m.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s men’s record holder, Fedrick Dacres was also second with her best effort of 65.20m.
Dacres, the 2019 World Championship silver medalist, who had undergone surgery on his wrist in November 2020, only managed throws of 65m twice and was beaten by Samoa’s Alex Rose, who produced a winning mark of 67.48m.
Brian Williams of the USA was third with 62.96m.
Dacres, the 2019 Pan American champion, won at the 2021 Tucson Elite Classic two days before with his season-best throw of 65.96m, saying afterwards he was not satisfied but thankful for the victory as he attempts to get back to his best in time for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Dacres has a lifetime best of 70.78m.
The 2019 World Championship silver medallist produced a season’s best 19.53m to win, her farthest throw since her 19.55 personal best and national record done in 2019, to win gold at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.
The throw was one of three in Thomas-Dodd’s series to eclipse 19m. Canada’s Sara Mitton was second with 19.47m while the USA’s Jessica Ramsey was third with 19.38m.
“It feels good to be honest. I was struggling a lot with my confidence because I was injured all of last season and I’m finally in a place where I can say I feel like the old Danniel,” she said in an interview after the event.
“I just want to bring this momentum into the World Championships,” she added.
Jamaica’s Ralford Mullings threw 63.75m for third in the Men’s discus behind the American pair of Sam Mattis (68.69m) and Andrew Evans (66.74m).
