BERLIN, GERMANY, August 30 — Given how long shot putter extraordinaire Chase Jackson has sought to join the 21-meter (68-10¾) club, amid ups and downs of global competition, injuries major and minor, and many — so many — near misses, shouldn’t she get the same treatment those 5-time hosts get on the iconic Saturday Night Live? The 5-time AR setter should be invited to walk the stage, get fitted with a special dinner jacket, and be feted by her fellow throwing legends.
Check that, maybe it should be the two-timers club, in this case, because when Jackson exploded on her first throw and launched the steel ball out to 68-11¾ (21.02) Sunday during ISATF ’26, she smashed her AR and became just the second woman in the past 14 years to surpass that barrier.
“It was amazing. I have been waiting for a throw like this for so long,” said the 2-time World champ. “Having it on the first attempt was a relief. I am satisfied that I had such a good series. Now I will train here in Berlin before going to Brussels [for the DL Final].”
Jackson didn’t just beat her NR, but she also now claims the North American standard as well — passing Cuba’s Belsy Laza’s 68-9¼ (20.96) from ’92. While Dutch recordholder Jessica Schilder (69-2½/21.09 in May) remains ahead of her on the yearly list, it’s the first time since ’90 that two women have topped 21.00 (68-10¾) in the same season.
Before surpassing the magic 21, Jackson had four meets at 20.90 (68-7) or better over the past 2 years, including her 68-8¾ (20.95) AR from last year’s Iron Wood Classic. Here she notched three other throws over 20m, including a 68-6 (20.88), the sixth-best of her career. She finished the day more than 3 feet ahead of Canadian rival Sarah Mitton.
Formerly one of the biggest fixtures on the European Circuit, ISTAF’s previous meet record had been set in ’84: 68-10 (20.88) by Helena Fibingerová.
On the track, Aussie Cam Myers, 3 days after finishing 3rd in the Zürich 3000, won the 1500 in 3:30.96, beating Germany’s Robert Farkan’s 3:31.73. While Myers waited until the final backstretch to attempt to win at Weltklasse, here he took over after the second pacer fell off just before the kilo and held it through the tape.
Fans at Olympiastadion did see a home nation victory (and world-leading mark) from European champ Gesa-Felicitas Krause in the infrequently run 2K steeple at 5:56.79.
Another newly minted continental champ winning on home turf was javelinist Julian Weber, nearly landing another 90m effort with his 293-9 (89.54). Though he was more than 20ft back in 3rd, American Marc Minichello achieved the No. 2 mark of his career with 273-3 (83.28).
There was plenty of action elsewhere on the continent to finish the final weekend before the Diamond League Final and the Ultimate Championships to follow.
A brief “other news” digest follows Berlin results below.
BERLIN CT RESULTS
Men’s Events
100(0.0): 1. Kadrian Goldson (Jam) 9.98.
1500: 1. Cam Myers (Aus) 3:30.96; 2. Robert Farken (Ger) 3:31.73; 3. Danson Mutai (Ken) 3:33.01; 4. Jochem Vermeulen (Bel) 3:33.13; 5. Narve Gilje Nordås (Nor) 3:33.32; 6. Marco Langon (US) 3:33.41; 7. Andrew Coscoran (Ire) 3:34.37; 8. Sam Prakel (US) 3:34.69.
400H: 1. Emil Nana Kwame Agyekum (Ger) 48.18; 2. Owe Fischer-Breiholz (Ger) 49.03; 3. Alastair Chalmers (GB) 49.14; 4. James Smith (US) 49.78.
PV: 1. EJ Obiena (Phi) 19-1 (5.82); 2. Ylio Philtjens (Bel) 18-9¼ (5.72) PR; 3. Robin Emig (Fra) 18-9¼; 4. KC Lightfoot (US) 18-5¼ (5.62);… 7. Sam Kendricks (US) 18-5¼.
JT: 1. Julian Weber (Ger) 293-9 (89.54); 2. Anderson Peters (Grn) 273-4 (83.32); 3. Marc Minichello (US) 273-3 (83.28); 4. Nick Thumm (Ger) 272-8 (83.10);… 8. Curtis Thompson (US) 243-7 (74.24).
Women’s Events
800: 1. Nigist Getachew (Eth) 1:58.04; 2. Klaudia Kazimierska (Pol) 1:58.11 PR; 3. Jemma Reekie (GB) 1:59.63; 4. Nia Akins (US) 2:00.51.
2000St: 1. Gesa-Felicitas Krause (Ger) 5:56.79 (WL);
2. Olivia Gürth (Ger) 6:02.65; 3. Celestine Biwot (Ken) 6:07.75;
4. Emma Coburn (US) 6:08.25 AR (old AR 6:09.81 Madie Boreman [Ois] ’23).
100H(-0.2): 1. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.78; 2. Amber Hughes (US) 12.88; 3. Laeticia Bapte (Fra) 12.88.
400H: 1. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.72; 2. Shamier Little (US) 54.51; 3. Ashley Miller (Zim) 54.59; 4. Daniela Ledecká (Svk) 55.15; 5. Bianca Stubler (US) 55.62.
LJ: 1. Tyra Gittens-Spotsville (Tri) 22-3½ (6.79); 2. Marthe Yasmine Koala (Bur) 22-¼ (6.71); 3. Milica Gardašević (Ser) 21-8 (6.60).
SP: 1. Chase Jackson (US) 68-11¾ (21.02) AR (old AR 68-8¾/20.95 Jackson ‘25) (68-11¾, 66-3¼, 67-2¼, 64-7¼, 65-6¾, 68-6 [x, 6 A]) (21.02, 20.20, 20.48, 19.69, 19.98, 20.88);
2. Sarah Mitton (Can) 65-11½ (20.10); 3. Yemisi Mabry (Ger) 64-8¾ (19.73);… 6. Adelaide Aquilla (US) 60-10½ (18.55).
DT: 1. Valarie Sion (US) 222-9 (67.89); 2. Leia Braunagel (Ger) 211-11 (64.60); 3. Shanice Craft (Ger) 202-1 (61.61);
4. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 201-1 (61.30); 5. Marike Steinacker (Ger) 196-5 (59.86); 6. Rachel Dincoff (US) 188-8 (57.52).
Other Notable Results…
Alekna Over 71m Again
BELLINZONA, SWITZERLAND, August 30 — Discus titan Mykolas Alekna, runner-up in Birmingham, continued to build momentum for the final meets of the season with a 234-7 (71.50) heave at the GalAthletics meeting. It was his fourth meet over 71m in the last 5, with Euros being the exception. Olympic champ Roje Stona was 11 feet in arrears.
In the women’s 1500, European 5K/10K champ Nadia Battocletti impressed at the bottom end of her range with a NR 3:57.54, as 6 more followed at 4:01 or faster including Addy Wiley’s 3:58.96 PR in 2nd. “I saw a lot of chaos with 300 meters to go, then I saw a gap to escape, and I told myself it was the right time,” said Battocletti.
Sharpening his game before Brussels and Budapest was World Record-holding hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp. He won the 110s in 13.15 after bypassing the non-DL race in Zürich. Sprinters Kayinsola Ajayi — with a 9.91 over Ronnie Baker 9.94 and Akane Simbine 9.95 — and Christopher Morales Williams — 44.44 over Zakithi Nene 44.54 and Khaleb McRae 44.62 — also showed strong form.
European PV champ Angelica Moser, coming off a tough defeat in Zürich, leapt 15-7¾ (4.77) to beat her Weltklasse conqueror, American Hana Moll (3rd,) and Moll’s compatriot Sandi Morris (2nd).
Campbell Resets Jamaican Shot NR
BRESCIA, ITALY, August 30 — Jamaica’s mighty Rajindra Campbell smashed his shot put NR for the third time this year, crushing a 74-1½ (22.59) to beat world leader and Euro champ Leonardo Fabbri (72-1¾/21.99) on his home turf. He topped the mark that Jordan Geist achieved in beating him at Zürich, boosting his hope for the rematches ahead.
American 20-year-old Bradley Franklin, beaten by Cordell Tinch by just .004 at the USATF Champs, took down the World titlist here with his second-best legal time, 13.10–13.25. A 1.5mps headwind made the performance even more impressive.
Speaking of races won by thousandths of a second, Nickisha Pryce nipped Salwa Eid Naser, as both clocked 49.27.
Patterson Rebounds To Match HJ WL
HEILBRONN, GERMANY, August 29-30 — Commonwealth champ Eleanor Patterson, just 6th in Zürich 3 days earlier, soared 6-7½ (2.02) to match her 4-year-old PR as well as countrywoman Nicola Olyslagers’ outdoor world lead in the HJ-only affair.
She also scored a win over WR-holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the absolute world leader at 6-8 (2.03).
