LOS ANGELES (USA, Jun 14): Tara Davis-Woodhall led the way at the USATF LA Grand Prix, a WACT Gold meet held at Allyson Felix Field. Her long jump performance stood out among a packed program of sprints, throws, and distance races.
Davis-Woodhall opened the long jump competition with a world-leading mark of 7.20m (+1.2) in the first round. That jump also stood as a personal best. She improved further in the third round, winning the event with a 7.25m leap (+3.3).
Davis-Woodhall also competed in the 100m hurdles. She finished second with a personal best of 12.47. Masai Russell won that race in 12.26, a new meet record (+1.5).
The men’s 110m hurdles saw Jamal Britt break 13 seconds for the first time in his career. He won in 12.99 (-0.1), edging out Trey Cunningham (13.03) and world champion Cordell Tinch (13.15).
In the men’s 100m, Kenny Bednarek ran 9.72 with a wind-aided +2.4. Christian Coleman finished second in 9.84, while Letsile Tebogo placed fifth in 9.95. The women’s 100m went to Sha’Carri Richardson, who clocked 10.99 under a legal -0.2 wind.
Aaliyah Butler won the women’s 400m in 49.90. Chris Bailey took the men’s 400m title in 44.57. In the 400m hurdles, Anna Cockrell set a new meet record of 53.43, finishing ahead of former world record holder Dalilah Muhammad, who ran 53.65.
The women’s throwing events produced two meet records. Chase Jackson won the shot put with a throw of 20.53m, ahead of Sarah Mitton’s 20.15m. Valarie Sion took the discus title with a meet record of 69.15m, well clear of runner-up Erika Beistie’s 65.02m.
The men’s shot put came down to a tight finish. Rajindra Campbell won with a throw of 21.94m. Jordan Geist and Joe Kovacs both reached 21.76m, but Geist took second place based on his next-best throw of 21.42m compared to Kovacs’ 21.12m.
On the track, Emily Mackay won the women’s 1500m in 3:59.26. Brandon Miller took the men’s 800m in 1:43.94. Gabrielle Jennings set a meet record in the steeplechase, finishing in 9:11.72.
The men’s 3000m featured a close finish, with Tshepo Tshite winning in 7:37.57. Cole Hocker closed fast but came up just short, finishing in 7:37.77.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili ran the women’s 200m into a strong headwind of -3.1, finishing in 22.45.
