Diamond League wins for Broadbell, Jackson

Commonwealth Games men's 110 metres hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell and World Championships women's 200 metres champion Shericka Jackson picked up two wins for Jamaican athletes at yesterday's Rabat Diamond League meet in Morocco, where five other Jamaicans had top-three finishes in their respective events.

It was Broadbell who scored the first win on the day for the Jamaicans, as, in a fine display, he overtook leader Grant Halloway of the USA to win the event in a season best 13.08 seconds. Halloway settled for second in 13.12, with Hansle Parchment of Jamaica getting third in a season best 13.24 seconds. The winning time by Broadbell was a meet record as he erased David Oliver's 2016 mark of 13.12 seconds.

"I am happy about how I performed today. I am pleased to get this win," said the 22-year-old Broadbell. "I managed to get this victory by being focused during the race.

"My goal this year is to execute well. I want to thank the crowd here for being supportive and fantastic. I am getting ready for the World Championship by staying healthy and in good shape," Broadbell continued.

Jackson, who made her first overseas appearance in the women's 200 metres after only competing once in the half-lap event at home, showed her class, with a superb win, posting a season best 21.98 seconds.

She pushed training partner Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas and Tamari Davis of the USA to produce lifetime bests of 22.15 and 22.30 seconds as they finished second and third, respectively.

Jackson became the second woman athlete to go sub-22 seconds over the event this season behind world leader Julien Alfred of St Lucia, with 21.91 seconds.

"I am happy about my victory, and it is not going to be my last though," Jackson said. "It was competitive at first but it was okay because I was well prepared. The crowd was a little bit noisy - it's something that happens in every competition, but I got used to it.

"Rabat is a good place. I liked everything, especially the organisation.

"I would definitely work harder to get more wins and hit the world record in the next upcoming Championships."

Rushell Clayton, with a second-place finish in the women's 400 metres hurdles, was the next best Jamaican, clocking a season best 54.15 seconds. Shian Salmon, 54.42, and Janieve Russell, 55.41, also had season bests in finishing third and fourth, as the USA's Shamier Little won in 53.95 seconds.

Triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts and quarter-miler Rusheen McDonald also had third-place finishes in their events.

Ricketts had a distance of 14.53 metres for third place in the women's triple jump as Leyanis Hernandez Perez of Cuba won in a personal best and world-leading 14.84 metres.

McDonald, the national record holder in the men's 400 metres clocked 45.55 seconds for third, as Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas won in 44 74 seconds, ahead of Vernon Norwood of the USA, who did 45.11 seconds.