Rajindra Campbell claims shot put victory at LA Grand Prix
Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell produced a winning performance on Sunday’s second day of the USATF LA Grand Prix at Allyson Felix Field on the campus of the University of Southern California, capturing the men’s shot put title.
Campbell was the only Jamaican victor among three competitors in action. Danielle Williams finished fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles, while Adelle Tracey placed seventh in the women’s 1500m.
Meanwhile, in Sweden, Olympic discus champion Roje Stona claimed victory in the men’s discus at the Folksam GP Sollentuna with a throw of 67.79m. Germany’s Steven Richter finished second with 67.44m, while Sweden’s Daniel Ståhl took third with 64.88m.
Also in Sweden, Daniel Thomas-Dodd secured second place in the women’s shot put with a best effort of 18.79m.
Competing in California, Campbell shook off a challenge from American Jordan Geist to win the event that he led from the first round when he opened the competition with 21.67m.
Geist, who was second briefly, took the lead in the third round when he had his best mark of 21.76m but Campbell responded on the next throw with 21.81m then celebrated his win by going even further in the final round with 21.94m.
Fellow American Joe Kovacs was third, also throwing 21.76m.
Meanwhile, Williams clocked a season’s best 12.59 seconds (1.5m/s), improving on her previous season best of 12.69. The race was won by world leader Masai Russell of the United States, who set a meet record of 12.26 seconds (1.5m/s), eclipsing the previous mark of 12.31 established by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in 2023.
Former long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall ran a personal best 12.47 seconds for second place with Grace Starks third with 12.48 seconds, a season’s best.
Tracey crossed the line in 4:07.69 to finish seventh in the women’s 1500m. American Emily Mackay won the event in 3:59.26, ahead of Great Britain’s Katie Snowden (4:00.97) and Lithuania’s Gabija Galvydyte (4:01.21).