KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd broke her own women’s shot put national record with a big 19.77m for third place at the United States of America LA Grand Prix- A World Athletics Continental Tour-gold event at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The former World Championships medallist and Commonwealth Games winner broke her previous best of 19.55m that she set at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019 as she climbed to third in the world rankings.

American Maggie Ewan won the event with a personal best and world-leading 20.45m while her compatriot Chase Ealey was second with 19.98m.

Thomas-Dodd was one of two Jamaicans to in podium positions at the two-day meet as on Friday, Traves Smikle won the men’s discus throw with a mark of 67.07m.

Smikle beat his training partner Fedrick Dacres who was second with 64.51m while Alex Rose of Samoa was third with 64.03m.

Shadae Lawrence was sixth in the women’s event with 59.44m.

-Paul A Reid