Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith, on her Olympic Games debut, finished eighth in the women’s long jump final as American Tara Davis-Woodhall struck gold at the Stade de France on Thursday.

Smith, who also contested the women’s triple jump final earlier at the multi-sport showpiece, started well with an opening leap of 6.66m but was unable to improve for the remainder of the competition.

Meanwhile, Davis-Woodhall, who has been in good form all season, was on song on the big stage, as she cut the stand at 7.10m to top the event ahead of Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, who mustered a best of 6.98m. Another American, Jasmine Moore (6.96m) was third.

Dominica’s Thea LaFond etched herself in her country’s history books forever by winning Olympic gold in the women’s triple jump final at the Paris Olympics at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The 30-year-old produced a personal best and national record 15.02m in the second round to claim her country’s first ever Olympic medal.

She opened her competition with 14.32m in the first round before producing her gold medal-winning effort a few minutes later. From rounds three to five, the reigning World Indoor champion produced distances of 14.46m, 14.12m and 14.43m before passing on her final effort with gold already secured.

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts secured silver, her country’s first ever Olympic medal in the event, with a best distance of 14.87m, her best jump of the season.

The 32-year-old had three legal jumps in her series, 14.61m in round one, 14.87m in round two and 14.73m in the final round.

American Jasmine Moore took bronze with a season’s best 14.67m.

Texas duo Julien Alfred and Kevona Davis as well as Syracuse’s Joella Lloyd and Oregon’s Kemba Nelson will all be present in Saturday’s 100m final, at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, after advancing from the semi-finals at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday.

Alfred, the St. Lucian national record holder in the event, won her semi-final in 10.90 to be the joint-fastest qualifier to the final. Nelson also dipped below 11 seconds, running 10.97 to win her semi-final.

Jamaica’s Davis finished third in her semi-final with a time of 11.11 to advance while the Antiguan Lloyd finished second in her semi with 11.08. Davis and Lloyd also advanced in the 200m with times of 22.38 and 22.66, respectively.

The Jamaican pair of Stacey Ann Williams of Texas and Charokee Young of Texas A&M will both be in the 400m final. Williams ran 50.18 to finish second in her semi-final while Young won hers in a time of 50.46.

Texas Tech’s Jamaican junior Demisha Roswell ran 12.93 to finish second in her semi-final of the 100m hurdles and progress.

Texas senior and Trinidad and Tobago Olympian Tyra Gittens jumped 6.57m for third in the long jump behind Florida’s Jasmine Moore (6.72m) and Texas A&M’s Deborah Acquah (6.60m).

 

 

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