WITH THE PARIS GOLD (Tara Davis-Woodhall) and silver (Malaika Mihambo) medalists missing — not to mention the 5, 7 & 8 Olympic finishers — the long jump was decidedly shy on star power.
The competition itself played out in rather perfunctory fashion, with only a single performer able to broach the 22-foot barrier.
Larissa Iapichino took the lead in the first round at 22-2½ (6.77). It was a mark nobody else would be able to match. The Italian star improved to 22-3¾ (6.80) in the second round but that would prove to be her best of the day.
She said, “Winning my first Diamond League Final is so amazing. Ending the season with the diamond is something to be very proud of. I tried to have fun and enjoy the competition, because I knew it was the last one.”
The American trio of Monae’ Nichols (21-11/6.68), Jasmine Moore (21-8¼/6.61) and Quanesha Burks (21-6¼/6.56) filled the next three spots. That’s the way they stood after four rounds and nobody in the field improved on the last two sequences.
Said Moore, who matched her Olympic bronze, “The crowd was amazing, but it was so cold that my toes were freezing.”
Results
1. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 22-3¾ (6.80); 2. Monae’ Nichols (US) 21-11 (6.68); 3. Jasmine Moore (US) 21-8¼ (6.61); 4. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-6¼ (6.56); 5. Milica Gardašević (Srb) 21-0 (6.40); 6. Marthe Koala (BF) 20-11¾ (6.39).