RAJINDRA Campbell has edged closer to the automatic qualifying mark for the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary, in August. He threw a personal best 21.31m at the United States of America Track and Field (USATF) Throws Fest held at Roy P Drachman Stadium at the University of Arizona on Saturday.

Campbell, who finished fifth, broke his previous best of 20.96m set on May 5 in Arkansas and is just shy of the automatic mark of 21.40m.

The former Kingston College athlete is the leading Jamaican male shot putter so far this year, is ranked 12th in the world, and this mark could be enough to get him on the plane to Budapest.

Also at the event on Saturday, women’s hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis, who is still chasing the automatic qualifying mark of 73.60m, was seventh with 69.73m and had four throws over 69.00m.

Clunis threw her personal best 70.68m earlier this year and is ranked 24th in the world while Erica Belvit also got over the 70.00m mark with 70.09m done on May 5 at a meet in Maryland.

Fedrick Dacres was second in the men’s discus throw with 65.48m, a day after he threw a season’s best 68.57m over the World Athletics Championships qualifying mark of 67.00m

Danniel Thomas-Dodd was fourth in the women’s shot put with 18.77m.