OSLO, NORWAY, June 10 — Disappointed with her performance in Stockholm, Chase Jackson came looking for a big throw. She nailed one on her first attempt, a 68-½ (20.74) meet record that is the No. 6 American toss ever. She wanted more.
“I was chuffed to be able to take Valerie Adams’ name off as she is the person we all look up to in the sport, so it is kind of surreal. I opened big today which was great and just as my coach told me to do but then I slightly lost the plot. I probably got too excited after that first throw.”
She followed with marks of 65-0 (19.81), 65-4¼ (19.92), 62-10¾ (19.17) and two fouls. Jessica Schilder, the winner at Stockholm in a big 69-2½ (21.09), could only manage 65-11¾ (20.11) here.
Continued Jackson, “I need to focus on my technique and I know I can do it. The Europeans here have the advantage of their time zone. This is the first time I have had sleep since I have been here so I think back in the States I will crack it. The nationals and Pre on home soil is where the big numbers will come.”
The Norwegian crowd absolutely loved the first DL race of the day, with Henriette Jæger powering away from the 400 field to grab her second DL win of the season in 49.52.
“I’m in such good shape,” said Jæger, admitting, “but it’s a long time until the European Champs in Birmingham.”
Ethiopians dominated a deep 3000 contest after letting Australia’s Linden Hall lead until the bell. Freweyni Hailu sprinted best with a 59.7 last lap to win in 8:24.22, ahead of teammates Likina Amebaw (8:25.15), Senayet Getachew (8:25.85) and Hawi Abera (8:27.18) as 8 beat 8:30.
Said Hailu, “The weather did not affect me, I think it is normal to race in any conditions. I am satisfied with how I felt in this run and also with my tactics. Every win counts.”
The breeze kicked up for the 100 final, with a 3.2 at their backs. Julien Alfred looked quite sharp in blowing to a 10.76 ahead of Amy Hunt’s 10.99.
“I am healthy and I am happy to get the win here,” said Alfred. “I would say I am trusting myself a lot more. And I am having so much more fun. Before I came here, my mental coach said to me: when you be yourself, it is the most powerful thing that you can do.”
Emma Zapletalová took her third straight 400H race, powerfully leaving Jasmine Jones on the curve and staying ahead of Rushell Clayton’s closing drive. The cold held her to a 53.13, slower than her other DL wins. Clayton ran 53.50 and Jones 54.09.
The Slovak winner noted, “To take the third victory in the Diamond League, that is a special thing for me. And today, it was not easy at all. I felt very stiff at the start due to the cold weather. But in general, the run was technically OK, at least I felt that way. I just need to analyze that. My plan was to run with 15 steps until the 8th hurdle and then 16 steps. The finish was tough and I was almost with no power.”
China’s Ziyi Yan continued to impress in the javelin. Her 220-2 (67.11) is the No. 2 Junior mark ever. It came on her first throw. She followed with a 212-7 (64.81) and then passed the rest, saying, “I felt pretty good today but the general temperature was quite tough, so maybe I did not perform at my best. In Xiamen, the temperature is generally on the warmer side, whereas here, it was a bit too cold.”
Davisleidis Velazco matched her PR of 48-8¾ (14.85) in the triple jump, although with a little too much breeze (2.3) aiding her. It still gave the 26-year-old Cuban the win, withstanding the 48-4¾ (14.75) that Saly Sarr of Senegal jumped in round 5 and the 47-10¾ (14.60) that world champion Leyanis Pérez managed in round 4. “I really worked a lot for this,” the winner said.
OSLO DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(3.2): 1. Julien Alfred (StL) 10.76w; 2. Amy Hunt (GB) 10.99w; 3. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 11.03w.
400: 1. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 49.52; 2. Lurdes Gloria Manuel (CzR) 50.13; 3. Natalia Bukowiecka (Pol) 50.34; 4. Amber Anning (GB) 50.35; 5. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 50.39.
3000: 1. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 8:24.22 PR (WL);
2. Likina Amebaw (Eth) 8:25.15; 3. Senayet Getachew (Eth) 8:25.85 PR; 4. Hawi Abera (Eth) 8:27.18 PR; 5. Maureen Koster (Neth) 8:27.67; 6. Linden Hall (Aus) 8:28.06 PR (5:42.53); 7. Megan Keith (GB) 8:28.35 PR; 8. Rose Davies (Aus) 8:29.63 PR;… rabbit—Margot Appleton (US) (2:48.65).
400H: 1. Emma Zapletalová (Svk) 53.13; 2. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.50; 3. Jasmine Jones (US) 54.09; 4. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 54.68; 5. Amalie Hammild Iuel (Nor) 54.79.
TJ: 1. Davisleidis Velazco (Cub) 48-8¾w (14.85); 2. Saly Sarr (Sen) 48-4¾ (14.75) PR); 3. Leyanis Pérez (Cub) 47-10¾w (14.60); 4. Ackelia Smith (Jam) 47-7 (14.50); 5. Thea LaFond (Dom) 47-6½ (14.49).
SP: 1. Chase Jackson (US) 68-½ (20.74) (x, 6 A);
2. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 65-11¾ (20.11); 3. Sarah Mitton (Can) 65-3¼ (19.89); 4. Yemisi Mabry (Ger) 62-11½ (19.19); 5. Jaida Ross (US) 62-7¼ (19.08).
JT: 1. Ziyi Yan (Chn) 220-2 (67.11) (2, 2 WJ);
2. Sigrid Borge (Nor) 203-2 (61.92)); 3. Adriana Vilagoš (Ser) 201-2 (61.33); 4. Flor Dennis Ruiz (Col) 200-6 (61.11); 5. Anete Sietiņa (Lat) 195-11 (59.72).
