Gold and record for Ricketts in triple jump
Shanieka Ricketts won her first major title after breaking the Commonwealth Games record on her way to the gold medal at Alexander Stadium on Friday, winning with a season’s best 14.94m (1.4m/s) in the triple jump.
Ricketts, who took her second World Championships silver medal last month in Eugene, Oregon, broke the record in the first round, erasing the 14.86m set by Ashia Hansen of England in 2002 and was just shy of her personal best 14.98m.
She upgraded her silver medal win in 2018 at the Gold Coast after placing fourth in Glasgow, Scotland in 2014.
Three Jamaicans made it to the final eight, two time champion Kimberly Williams was fourth with 14.25m (1.2m/s) and Ackelia Smith, who had qualified for the long jump final in the morning session, was sixth with 13.83m.
Thea LaFond of Dominica was second with 14.39m (0.9m/s) and England’s Naomi Metzger took the bronze with a personal best 14.37m (0.7m/s).
Elaine Thompson-Herah stayed on course for the women’s sprint double after she led all qualifiers with 22.63 seconds (1.3m/s), winning her race by a wide margin.
Two Jamaicans will contest the final, as Natalliah Whyte was second in her heat in 23.09 seconds (1.9m/s).
Meanwhile, Kadrian Goldson ran 21.13 seconds, sixth in his semi-finals heat of the men’s 200m and failed to advance.
Nathon Allen, who was second in his heat in 44.99 seconds, and Anthony Cox, who got through on time after he was third in his heat, are through to the final of the men’s 400m.
Jevaughn Powell faded in his heat after leading after about 340 metres and was third in his heat in 46.40 seconds and failed to go through to the next round.
Junelle Bromfield qualified for the women’s 400m final, on time, after she was third in her semi-final heat in 52.18 seconds, the eighth best time of the round.
O’Dayne Richards was sixth in the men’s shot put final with a best mark of 19.90m as throwers from New Zealand took gold and silver; Tom Walsh threw 22.26m for the win, Jacko Gill took silver with a personal best 21.90m and England’s Scott Lincoln was third with 20.57m.
