DOHA, Qatar — Jamaica Diamond League winner Shanieka Ricketts and two-time Commonwealth Games champion Kimberly Williams advanced to tomorrow’s women’s triple jump final in contrasting styles.

Yesterday, Ricketts showed that she is in tremendous form, easily qualifying for the triple jump final with her one and only jump of 14.42 metres (0.6 m/s).

With the qualifying mark set at 14.30m, her compatriot Kimberly Williams didn’t have things that smoothly. Williams had to utilise all three jumps, advancing 11th overall.

With qualification Groups A and B competing simultaneously, Ricketts was in and out of the pits in a flash, soaring past the qualifying mark.

“I was hoping to qualify on the first jump, so I now I can go back home and get ready for the final on Saturday, so I get to save my legs a bit,” said Ricketts.

She won Group A ahead of reigning Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia, who needed two jumps. Ibarguen’s best was 14.32m (0.5 m/s). Olha Saladukha of Ukraine finished third with 14.32 after fouling on her first two jumps.

Keturah Orji (14.30m) of the United States, Kristiina Makela (14.26m) of Finland and Patricia Mamona (14.21m) of Portugal also qualified from Group A.

Ricketts, Jamaica’s national record holder with 14.93m, said her preparation has been going well.

“It’s been going good; I have been getting some really good jumps during training and I am pleased with what’s happening so far,” she noted.

“I just made sure I did everything I have been doing so far this season and I was able to get a jump that’s over the qualifying mark,” Ricketts reiterated.

The lanky Jamaican finished with the best jump overall.

“I thought it would be hotter, but it’s a lot cooler in the stadium so that’s good. Not a lot of wind so it works in our favour. But it would be ideal with a bit of wind to push us down the runway,” she pointed out.

The 27-year-old Ricketts, enjoying the season of her life, said she is simply doing the same things that has brought so much success.

“In 2017 I qualified on my second jump, so this is the best. I am more of a student of the sport this year. I am much more consistent and it shows in my performances, so I think my body knows where the marks are,” said a confident Ricketts.

Williams joined Ricketts into the final, albeit some 35 minutes later. It took her three jumps and although she failed to hit the qualifying mark of 14.30m, her best of 14.20m placed her fifth in Group B.

“I made the finals so that was the most important thing. It doesn’t matter what position you finish as long as you make the finals,” Williams pointed out.

“Come Saturday night I am excited to go out there and fix some things that I got wrong today. Unfortunately I had to take three jumps but it’s a part of the game and I am just looking forward to Saturday,” she added.

“I started out behind the board and I stayed there. I just have to keep my hips up and keep being aggressive, execute my technique and I will be OK,” she noted.

Williams’ and Ricketts’ chances of medal places increased as two of the top challengers found the going tough in Group B and were eliminated.

Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan, the 2012 Olympic champion, could only muster a best of 14.09m and finished seventh in Group B and 13th overall.

She was joined on the outside by Cuba’s Liadagmis Povea, the Pan Am Games bronze medallist who has a personal best of 14.77, and is ranked third in the world. She jumped 14.08m, her worse jump from 20 attempts in 2019. Povea finished ninth in Group B and 15th overall.