Shericka shows ominous form, Campbell breaks national record in Xiamen

Shericka Jackson was in imperious form at yesterday’s Xiamen Diamond League meet in China, making it back-to-back wins in the event on her way to clocking a season’s best and meet record 21.87 seconds, the second fastest time in the world in the event this season, behind St Lucia's Julien Alfred’s world-best 21.86.

Jackson, who stated in a pre-race interview the previous day that she was not satisfied with her 2025 performance, made her intentions clear early that she was out for something special. Drawn in lane seven, she exploded from the blocks and produced perfect execution on the curve, dominating the event from start to finish for a commanding victory.

The Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo, once again, had to settle for second in a season’s best 22.04, while former meet record holder Anavia Battle of the United States was third in a season’s best 22.29. 

World 100m champion from 2023 Sha’Carri Richardson finished fourth in a season’s best 22.38.

According to Jackson, it was not about the time. 

“You know, getting hurt is not really what you want and I think, for me, it’s not about the fast or slow. It’s about focusing on myself for the last year. The focus was just to stay healthy. 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’m focusing on working on fine details and learning proper technique under pressure,” she stated.

It was a good day for Jamaican athletes at the meet, with 2024 Olympic shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell also picking up a win after producing a national record, while there were top-three finishes for Tajay Gayle, Orlando Bennett, and Lamara Distin.

Competing in the men’s shot put, Campbell, who started off with a foul on his first attempt, was at his best on his fifth try, producing a national record 22.34 metres for the win. The United States duo of Jordan Geist (21.52) and Ryan Crouser (21.41) had to settle for second and third respectively.

Campbell was naturally elated after his accomplishment.

“For the past couple of months I think I am just growing stronger. Last year the objective was to win a national record and I didn’t get it, so coming this year the objective was to get the national record and over 22 metres, and I got both. I am excited for the next couple of meets to see if I can push the record,” said Campbell.

Jamaica’s next best performance on the day came in the men’s long jump as Doha 2019 World Championships gold medallist Tajay Gayle finished second in the event with a season’s best 8.32 metres. Double Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece won the event with 8.46, which was also a meet record and world-leading mark. Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock posted a season’s best 7.93 for a sixth-place finish.

Lamara Distin finished third in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.94 metres, while Tokyo World Championships silver medallist Orlando Bennett also enjoyed getting onto the podium in the men’s 110m hurdles. Bennett equalled his season’s best, 13.20 seconds, to finish third.

One of the highlights of the meet came in the final track event, the women’s 100m hurdles, as the United States’ Masai Russell, the Olympic champion in the event, maintained her impressive form. She improved significantly on her previous world-leading time of 12.25 seconds done a week earlier, winning the event in a new world-leading time of 12.14. The winning time was also a Meet, Diamond League and Area record.

Tobi Amusan of Nigeria was second in a season’s best 12.28, with Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas third in a national record 12.37. 

Megan Simmonds was the best-placed Jamaican in the event, finishing fourth in a season’s best 12.62. There was also a season’s best for Ackera Nugent, sixth in 12.64, and Danielle Williams, seventh in 12.90.

Two other outstanding performances came on the track in the men's 400m and 400m hurdles. 

Botswana's Busang Kebinatshipi rushed to a meet record and world-leading 43.92 seconds to win the men's 400m, ahead of Muzala Sanukonga of Zambia, 44.04, and Zakithi Nene of South Africa, third in 44.40.

Alison dos Santos of Brazil won the men's 400m hurdles in a world-leading 46.72 seconds, finishing ahead of Karsten Warholm of Norway, second in a season’s best 46.82. Caleb Dean of the United States was third in a season’s best 47.75.

Caption B3 (Main) Shericka Jackson: Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (right) looks across at the clock at the end of the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China, yesterday. Finishing to her left are The Bahamas’s Shunae Miller-Uibo and the United States’ Sha’Carri Richardson.  - Courtesy of @Diamond_League/X

Caption B3 (Main)