SOMETIMES IT ONLY TAKES one jump. Leyanis Pérez had wins at 3 Diamond League meetings this season — Eugene, Stockholm and Monaco — but a 5th in the Olympics left her hungry. Here, with Paris champion Thea LaFond absent, the Cuban came out on top in her battle with silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica, as well as Jasmine Moore, the bronze medalist.
In the first round it was actually Slovenia’s Neja Filipič who led at 46-¾ (14.04), as Ricketts and Pérez fouled. Then in round 2, Ricketts, the ’19 champion, bounced out to 46-4¾ (14.14). That gave her the lead for just a few minutes, as on the next attempt, it was Pérez who went 47-1¾ (14.37).
In round 3, Ricketts moved closer with a 46-5½ (14.16). Pérez fouled. Round 4, they both fouled. Round 5, they both fouled again. Moore got her best of the day, 45-7 (13.89), but would end up 5th. Finally, in round 6, after yet another Pérez foul, Ricketts delivered a 46-8 (14.22) — good for the cold, damp conditions but not good enough. Third went to Ackelia Smith, who hit 46-3½ (14.11) on her last jump.
Said Pérez, who fouled 5 times in all, “This victory was a little unexpected. It was already really special for me to get into the Diamond League Final and to be able to win it, is really special. I’m lost for words. The conditions weren’t ideal for triple jump. I wasn’t expecting such cold weather here in Brussels, but it was the same for all the other athletes.”
Ricketts seemed glad to be heading home: “It was a long season and I felt every muscle and joint in my body.”
Results
1. Leyanis Pérez (Cub) 47-1¾ (14.37); 2. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 46-8 (14.22); 3. Ackelia Smith (Jam) 46-3½ (14.11); 4. Neja Filipič (Slo) 46-¾ (14.04); 5. Jasmine Moore (US) 45-7 (13.89); 6. Dariya Derkach (Ita) 44-1½ (13.45).
