Shanieka Ricketts, who won silver in Oregon22, is now the Commonwealth Games 2022 champion
Shanieka Ricketts, who won silver in Oregon22, is now the Commonwealth Games 2022 champion

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts has added a Commonwealth Games gold medal to her impressive resume as she leaped to a season’s-best jump of 14.94 meters in the women’s triple jump at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Ricketts, who is ranked number two in the world this year and has a lifetime best mark of 14.98 meters, produced a new Games record of 14.94 meters to take victory in the event. The previous record of 14.86 was set by Ashia Hansen of England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. Ricketts recently won the silver medal in the event at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Shanieka Ricketts, who won silver in Oregon22, is now the Commonwealth Games 2022 champion
Shanieka Ricketts, who won silver in Oregon22, is now the Commonwealth Games 2022 champion

The silver medal was won by Thea LaFond of Dominica, who produced a jump of 14.39, while bronze went to Naomi Metzger of England, who recorded a personal-best leap of 14.37 meters.

Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams narrowly missed out on a podium finish after she placed fourth in the event with a jump of 14.25 meters. National long jump champion Ackelia Smith had to settle for a sixth place with a best jump of 13.83.

Commonwealth Games women’s 200m line-up

Meanwhile, in the women’s 200 meters, the third fastest woman of all time in the event, Elaine Thompson-Herah, progressed to the final with the fastest time of 22.63. She was followed by Natassha McDonald of England (23.21), while Scotland’s Beth Dobbin finished third in 23.28. Her compatriot, Natalliah Whyte, also advanced to the final of the event after finishing second in her respective semi-final in a time of 23.09.

The two Jamaicans will line up in the final of the women’s 200 meters on Saturday, August 6 at 3:44pm Jamaica time. They will vie for the Commonwealth Games title in the event against Favour Ofili of Nigeria (22.66), Christine Mboma of Namibia (22.93), Gambia’s Gina Bass (23.10), Natassha McDonald of England (23.21), Beth Dobbin of Scotland (23.28) and Australia’s Ella Connolly (23.41).

Additional events contested at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games:

Men’s Shot Put: 2014 Glasgow champion, O’Dayne Richards, missed out on a medal finish after placing sixth in the final of the men’s shot put when he produced a throw of 19.90 meters. The New Zealand pair of Tom Walsh (21.98) and Jacko Gill (20.88) finished first and second respectively, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi of Nigeria claimed the bronze medal.

Men’s 400 meters: After three semi-finals of the men’s 400 meters were contested, Anthony Cox (45.98) and Nathon Allen (45.99) booked their spots in the event’s final. Jevaughn Powell, however, finished fourth in his respective semi-final in a time of 46.40. As a result, he will not join his compatriots in the next round. Cox and Allen will contest the final on Sunday, August 7 at 4:45pm Jamaica time.

Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay: The Jamaican quartet of Karayme Bartley, Anthony Cox, Navasky Anderson and Javon Francis punched their tickets to the final of the event after claiming the runner-up spot in heat one in a time of 3:05.20. The Jamaicans will be joined by Botswana (3:05.11), Zambia (3:06.02), Nigeria (3:06.36), Kenya (3:06.76), India (3:06.97), Trinidad and Tobago (3:07.12) and Barbados (3:07.23). The final of the men’s 4×400 meters will take place on Sunday, August 7 at 2:30pm Jamaica time.

Men’s 200 Meters: Jamaica’s Kadrian Goldson had to settle for a sixth-place finish in a time of 21.13 in the semi-final round of the men’s 200 meters. As a result, he will not progress to the final of the event. The final of the men’s 200 meters, however, is slated for Saturday, August 6 at 3:18pm Jamaica time.

Women’s 110-meter hurdles: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Megan Tapper will lead the Jamaicans into the final of the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Tapper clocked 12.68 to win heat two and qualified with the third-fastest time. Meanwhile, former national record holder Danielle Williams will join Tapper in the final after finishing second in heat one in 12.80. The Jamaican pair will line up against the likes of Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, who recently set the world record of 12.12 at the Oregon World Championships. The final of the women’s 100 meters hurdles is scheduled for Sunday, August 7 at 4:25am Jamaica time.

Women’s 400 meters: Junelle Bromfield finished fourth in semi-final two in a time of 52.18. As a result, she advanced to the final of the event based on a non-automatic qualification. Bromfield will contest the final of the women’s 400 meters against the English quartet of Victoria Ohuruogu (51.00), Kyra Constantine (51.78), Ama Pipi (51.95) and Jodie Williams (51.98), Sada Williams of Barbados (51.59), Asimenye Simwaka of Malawi (51.70), and Zoey Clark of Scotland (51.99). All eight finalists will line up for the final of the one lap event on Sunday, August 7 at 5am Jamaica time.

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