KINGSTON, Jamaica — Six Jamaicans, including Olympic Games men’s discus record holder Roje Stona and former Commonwealth Games women’s shot put gold medalist Danniel Thomas-Dodd, are set to take part in Wednesday’s 2026 Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Turku, Finland.

In form 400m hurdler Assine Wilson, as well as long jumpers Ackelia Smith and Nia Robinson, and high jumper Lamara Distin, are also set to compete.

Stona is set to go up against the top three throwers in the world, Australia’s Matt Denny, Germany’s Steven Richter and Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia, as well as Sweden’s Daniel Stahl.

Stona is ranked seventh in the world with a season’s best of 70.66m.

Thomas-Dodd, who has a season’s best 19.34m, is also down to face some of the world’s best, led by world leader Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands, Chase Jackson of the USA and Sarah Mitton of Canada.

Wilson, who ran a personal best 48.29 seconds in March, joint 10th best ever by a Jamaican, will start as the favourite to win the men’s 400m hurdles and will have Matic Gucek of Slovenia, Kamorena Tisang of Botswana and Alastair Chalmers of Great Britain as his main rivals.

Wilson is coming off a win on Monday at the Josef Odlozil Memorial in Czechia.

Smith has been busy in the last month, competing in four meets, placing second at the Goldenes Oval meet in Dresden, Germany, jumping 6.54m.

On Wednesday, Smith and Robinson, a finalist at the World Athletics Indoor Championship in March, will line up against Americans Monae Nichols and Claire Bryant as well as Marthe Koala of Burkino Faso.

Distin, who has competed in the last two Diamond League meets, will compete in the women’s high jump, where she faces Yulia Levchenko of Ukraine and Louise Ekman of Sweden, who comes into the meet with the best performances so far.

— Paul A Reid