LONDON, ENGLAND, July 18 — Cierra Jackson knows a bit what it’s like to stun the field with a big throw. Her opening 215-11 (65.82) heave to win the ’25 NCAA title seemed to come out of nowhere. But her mammoth performance here reverberated with the throwing community worldwide and won’t soon be forgotten.
The London DL was understandably hyped as a middle-distance fans feast, with great sprinting, hurdling and jumping thrown in as well. But those among the announced crowd of 60,000 who zeroed in on the discus were rewarded with the day’s most stunning women’s achievement.
Entering the sixth round, it looked like another win was in the bag for 5-time seasonal DL victor Valerie Sion, as the Olympic and World champion had reached 224-4 (68.39) in the third round, then started the final stanza with a nice 223-6 (68.12) backup.
Jackson had hit a fine 220-0 (67.12) on her second attempt, but the rest of her series had two short of 200 and two fouls. Consistency has long been the Fresno State alum’s biggest challenge, but she was still in line for her best DL finish since last year’s Pre Classic.
But on the final throw of the competition, Jackson’s energy, speed and release came together for a towering throw and it was immediately clear it was going to be a huge PR. Her face immediately lit up with a broad smile as she exited the ring. Then she heard the measurement and leapt into the air with shrieks of joy. The platter had sailed beyond the 70-meter barrier and reached a monumental 235-4 (71.72).
Jackson had smashed Sandra Perković’s DL Record and become the No 2 American in history, trailing only Sion. Beyond the extremely discus-friendly Ramona venue, however, no woman has thrown farther globally since ’89. Only Sion and Cuba’s Yaimé Pérez (both at Ramona) have thrown further this century.
“Obviously it means the world to me because I’ve worked so hard,” she said through tears of joy, “especially coming back from a meet I just bowed out of [Pre two weeks earlier].
“I was super nervous going into that throw. I couldn’t feel my hands, my stomach was hurting. Then I was like, ‘Yeah, let me do the clap,’ and I got even more nervous. I was about to cry before I even threw. I was like, ‘Oh, this is either going to go really well or really bad.’
“I just took a deep breath and threw and I watched it fly. My stomach started hurting immediately. I have never felt that feeling before. I was like, ‘Oh my god,’ and then I saw the mark and I could not breathe. My friends were hugging me and were so excited. I was shocked; I still am shocked.”
The meet also featured continued red-hot sprinting for Julien Alfred and Marileidy Paulino, each winning with decisive moves late. Alfred, coming off her stupendous 21.51 PR in Monaco, was challenged more strongly this time. The St. Lucian got a great start, but Gabby Thomas pulled ahead and had a slight lead through 120m.
Alfred powered ahead down the stretch and the Paris gold medalist couldn’t match it. Alfred’s 21.66, in nearly still conditions, was the second-best of her career. “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want to run today,” she admitted. “But my coach was like, ‘It is our last race for a while, we can go home and get to St. Lucia, too.’ I did it and I won, so I am very happy with how it went.”
With her trademark surge in the final stretch, Paulino moved ahead for her fourth straight DL victory this year — all under 49, though this 48.97 was the slowest of the four. Norwegian Henriette Jæger finished nearly as well, breaking her own NR with 49.15.
The 3000 was a return to form for Jessica Hull, last seen pacing Agnes Ngetich’s 8:08 3K in Monaco. Finishing no better than 4th and frequently overtaken after fast starts in her last four DLs, the Aussie this time held back, then closed strongly and best (60.1) for an outdoor PR 8:24.69. This was good for a clear margin ahead of the lifetime bests of countrywoman Rose Davies (8:25.38) and Ireland’s Sarah Healy (8:25.63).
“I have tried really hard to win here over the last few years, so getting the chance to come into the race as one of the favorites and then to go on and win is very special,” she said.
The high jump featured the four women who took the Tokyo podium spots (including a tie for bronze). Until Budapest earlier this week, World champ Nicola Olyslagers had taken time away from competition since the Australian Champs in April before returning to the tussle at the Gyulai Memorial 5 days before this meet. Here she went toe-to-toe with Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh and both turned up the tension with third-attempt clearances at 6-7 (2.01). Neither could negotiate 6-8 (2.03) and the Aussie had the win on fewer misses.
Three-time global long jump champ Malaika Mihambo struggled with her steps and timing on her first four attempts, but finally got it right in round 5 for a season’s best 23-1¾ (7.05). That was enough to hold off the outdoor PR of American Claire Bryant, whose 22-9¼ (6.94) was her best legal jump since she won the ’25 World Indoor.
Even though the men’s mile was the most hyped contest, the women’s 800 with hometown favorite Keely Hodgkinson was the day’s grand finale. Neither Audrey Werro or Lilian Odira — who have handed the Brit consecutive defeats — were in the race, however, and it played a little more like an epilogue.
With wavelights set for 1:54.00, Hodgkinson hit 400 behind pacer Shaquifa Maloney (57.1), needing a powerful second lap to beat her 1:54.33 PR. As she surged at 600, at least 1:55 seemed possible, but she faded in the straight as Femke Broeders-Bol closed on her. The World Champ won in 1:56.21, just 0.25 ahead of Broeders-Bol as the erstwhile hurdler had another strong 2-lap effort.
“I am going to take the positives because it has been a tough couple of weeks,” said Hodgkinson. “Not everything always goes to plan, but I am proud with how I have dealt with it. The only reason I came here today is because I wanted to race in front of a home crowd.”
LONDON DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(0.1): 1. Julien Alfred (StL) 21.66; 2. Gabby Thomas (US) 21.81; 3. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.24; 4. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 22.28; 5. Amy Hunt (GB) 22.30; 6. Success Eduan (GB) 22.53; 7. Anavia Battle (US) 22.55; 8. Cambrea Sturgis (US) 22.57.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 48.97; 2. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 49.15 NR; 3. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 49.52; 4. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 50.09; 5. Natalia Bukowiecka (Pol) 50.10; 6. Roxana Gómez (Cub) 50.14; 7. Yemi Mary John (GB) 50.24.
800: 1. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:56.21; 2. Femke Bol-Broeders (Neth) 1:56.46; 3. Tsige Duguma (Eth) 1:56.92; 4. Sarah Billings (Aus) 1:58.16; 5. Jemma Reekie (GB) 1:58.60; 6. Isabelle Boffey (GB) 1:58.85 PR; 7. Addy Wiley (US) 2:00.01;… rabbit—Shafiqua Maloney (StV) (56.80).
3000: 1. Jessica Hull (Aus) 8:24.69 PR; 2. Rose Davies (Aus) 8:25.38 PR; 3. Sarah Healy (Ire) 8:25.63 PR; 4. Hannah Nuttall (GB) 8:26.48 PR; 5. Fantaye Belayneh (Eth) 8:26.98 PR; 6. Linden Hall (Aus) 8:27.16 PR; 7. Georgia Griffith (Aus) 8:27.94; 8. Medina Eisa (Eth) 8:27.99; 9. Hawi Abera (Eth) 8:28.00; 10. Marta Alemayo (Eth) 8:29.09 PR; 11. Laura Muir (GB) 8:31.77.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-7 (2.01) (WL) (6-4 [2], 6-5, 6-6¼, 6-7 [3], 6-8 [xxx]) (1.93 [2], 1.96, 1.99, 2.01 [3], 2.03 [xxx]); 2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-7 (=WL) (6-4 [2], 6-5 [2], 6-6¼ [2], 6-7 [3], 6-8 [xxx]) (1.93 [2], 1.96 [2], 1.99 [2], 2.01 [3], 2.03 [xxx]); 3. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-5 (1.96); 4. Maria Żodzik (Pol) 6-5; 5. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-5; 6. Lamara Distin (Jam) 6-4 (1.93); 7. Marija Vuković (Mont) 6-¾ (1.85).
LJ: 1. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 23-1¾ (7.05); 2. Claire Bryant (US) 22-9¼ (6.94) PR; 3. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 22-4½ (6.82); 4. Hilary Kpatcha (Fra) 22-¾ (6.72); 5. Agate De Sousa (Por) 21-10¾ (6.67); 6. Lucy Hadaway (GB) 21-9½ (6.64).
DT: 1. Cierra Jackson (US) 235-4 (71.72) PR (15, x W; 2, 3 A) (farthest non-Ramona throw since ’89) (186-11, 220-0, f, 198-11, f, 235-4) (56.99, 67.07, f, 60.65, f, 71.72);
2. Valarie Sion (US) 224-4 (68.39) (198-10, 208-10, 224-4, 220-10, 218-5, 223-6) (60.61, 63.66, 68.39, 67.32, 66.58, 68.12); 3. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 223-0 (67.99); 4. Vanessa Kamga (Swe) 214-3 (65.30); 5. Alida van Daalen (Neth) 210-8 (64.22); 6. Lagi Tausaga (US) 207-2 (63.15).
