Havana.- THE VENEZUELAN Yulimar Rojas stretched to 15.35 meters today to win the 2023 Diamond League triple jump title on the first of two days held in the American city of Eugene.
In the traditional Prefontaine classic at Hayward Field, which serves as the highlight of the course, the current Olympic queen and world record holder once again showed a lack of coordination with four clear jumps in her sequence.
However, on the fifth attempt he reached a place where no competitor had yet put his spikes, adding his name to the rally’s record and the season’s lead.
In the absence of Cubans Leyanis Pérez and Liadagmis Povea, who along with high jumper Luis Enrique Zayas were denied visas to enter the United States, Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts put more pressure on Yulimar.
The Caribbean woman used the penultimate jump to reach 15 meters (15.03) and set her personal best. Her compatriot Kimberly Williams took third place with a season best of 14.61.
In the men’s category, the Cuban nationalized Italian Andy DÃaz won. With 17.43 meters he relegated the youngest world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango from Burkina Faso to second place, who finished with 17.25 meters.
Among the record holders of the first event was the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who clocked the mile in 3:43.73 minutes, a test that is not part of the Olympic program. It was just over half a second shy of the world record.
The time he achieved in defending his crown became a Diamond League record.
Another to break the barriers was host Rai Benjamin with 46.39 seconds in the 400 meter hurdles. In addition, he surpassed the Olympic champion and world record holder, the Norwegian Karsten Warholm, and grabbed the course record.
Like Yulimar, Kenyan Faith Kipyegon also successfully defended her crown thanks to her absolute dominance over 1,500 meters (3:50.72 minutes).
Japanese javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi (63.78 meters) and South Korean high jumper Sanghyeok Woo (2.35 meters) were the first from their respective countries to win the coveted gem.
Winfred Mutile Yavi from Bahrain, world queen in the 3,000 meters with obstacles, also shone, now with a time of 8:50.66 minutes, registered as the best mark of the season, a record for Asia and for the rally.
In terms of surprises, the most relevant were the defeats in the 100-meter run by the Americans Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, winners of the recent 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Successes belonged to host Christian Coleman, who set a season-leading 9.83 seconds, and Jamaican Shericka Jackson, who set a record of 10.70.
Jackson will try to pull off an unusual one-two in the 200-meter dash this Sunday. Among other attractions, this day’s program also focuses on the Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis and the possible revenge of the local Athing Mu against the Kenyan world champion Mary Moraa in the 800 meter run.
