RAJINDRA Campbell is excited about breaking his Jamaican national record in the men’s shot put and says he is looking to push the record even further in the near future, after winning the event at Saturday’s Diamond League meeting at Egret Stadium in Xiamen, China, with a 22.34m mark.

Campbell, whose international future is still up in the air after his application to switch nationality to Turkiye was rejected by World Athletics recently, was one of two Jamaican winners at the second stop on the Diamond League series, after Shericka Jackson won her second-straight 200m race this season, clocking a season’s best and meeting record 21.87 seconds (0.2m/s) — the second-best time in the world so far.

Campbell, who also improved to second in the world ranking after breaking his previous best of 22.31m set two years ago in Croatia, said his preparation is paying dividents.

“For the past couple of months I think I’m just growing stronger. Last year the objective was to [break] the national record, and I didn’t get it, so coming here, definitely the objective was the win, at first — and hopefully the goal was to get over 2200m,” said Campbell.

Campbell said he was elated in getting the mark.

“The national record came so I’m really excited; it shows that I’m in good shape. I am excited for the next couple of meets to see if I can push the record,” he added.

The left-handed thrower took over the lead with a then season’s best 21.80m in the second round, after fouling his first-round attempt and then improving to 21.88m in the third round before getting the record in the fifth round.

A pair of Americans finished behind him on Saturday as Jordan Geist was second with 21.52m and Ryan Crouser, who had a season’s best 21.41m, was third.

Meanwhile Jackson, who had run a fast 22.07 seconds a week earlier in Shanghai/Keqiao, after arriving in the country a few days earlier, powered her way to another win, making up for last year’s second-place finish.

She said afterwards she was more focused on herself and staying healthy, after being slowed by persistent injuries over the last two seasons.

“You know getting hurt isn’t really what you want, and I think for me its not about the fast or slow [times], it’s just about focusing on myself for the last year. The focus was just to stay healthy,” said Jackson.

“I think I got a little [niggle] at the World Championships — that’s why I started the season a little bit later than usual. So now, I am focusing on working on fine details and learning proper technique under pressure.”

Jackson lowered the meet record of 22.41 set last year by American Anavia Battle who was third on Saturday in 22.29 seconds, behind Shaunae Miller Uibo of The Bahamas who was second in 22.04 seconds — a repeat of the top three from last weekend.

Multiple Olympic Games and World Championships medallist Tajay Gayle jumped a season’s best 8.32m (0.2m/s) to place second in the men’s long jump, a big improvement over the 7.93m he produced in Shanghai/Keqiao a week earlier.

Olympic Games and World Championships gold medallist Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece won with a season’s best 8.46m (0.0m/s), equalling the world lead and breaking the meet record of 8.18m set last year by China’s Zhang Mingkun.

Another Jamaican, Wayne Pinnock, was sixth with 7.93m (0.5m/s), equalling his season’s best.

Orlando Bennett equalled his season’s best of 13.20 seconds to place third in the 110m hurdles final that was won by American Jamal Britt who ran 13.07 seconds to equal his personal best.

Japan’s Rachid Muratake was second with 13.13 seconds.

Lamar Distin placed third in the women’s high jump with 1.94m, behind two Ukrainians, Yulia Levchenko, who won with 1.99m, and Iryna Gerashhchenko, 1.97m.

Megan Simmonds (fourth) was the best-placed Jamaican in the 100m hurdles, running 12.52 seconds (0.5m/s) as the impressive American Masai Russell sparkled with 12.14 seconds — the second-fastest time ever in the event.

Russell lowered her American record from 12.17 seconds, obliterated the meet record 12.45 seconds set by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn set in 2024, as well as the Diamond League record.

World Record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria was second with a season’s best 12.28 seconds while Devynne Charlton broke the Bahamian national record for the second-straight week with 12.37 seconds.

Ackera Nugent finished sixth with 12.64 seconds and Danielle Williams was seventh in 12.90 seconds.

CAMPBELL…the national record came so I’m really excited; it shows that I’m in good shape AFP

Tajay Gayle competing in the men’s long jump final. AFP