MR BIG SHOT – Jamaica Observer

RAJINDRA Campbell became only the fifth man in history to throw beyond 23.00m when he won the men’s shot put with a Jamaican record 23.08m during the Wanda Diamond League final of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, on Saturday.

Campbell rewrote Jamaica’s history in the throwing events, joining discus thrower Fedrick Dacres as the only Jamaicans to win a Diamond Trophy in a throwing event. His 23.08m is the farthest throw in the world this season and moved him to fourth on the all-time list.

Tina Clayton was also a winner, taking the women’s 100m in 10.93 seconds (0.3m/s) to become the fifth Jamaican woman to win the Diamond Trophy in the event.

Campbell produced his winning throw in the final round after setting a Jamaican record of 22.62m in the second round. Only three Americans have gone farther — Ryan Crouser with 23.56m in May 2023, Joe Kovacs with 23.23m in September 2022, and Randy Barnes with 23.12m in May 1990.

The Olympic Games bronze medallist, who declared his wish to switch national allegiance to Türkiye, said after the contest, “There have been signs in practice of a throw like this being on the way, but to put it together today feels incredible. The 23.00m line is a badge of honour for every shot putter so I’m extremely grateful to have crossed it.”

Campbell believes he can go even farther, and has his sights set on the world record.

“There are still a lot of things that I can improve on, but every time I come closer to perfection, the throw will be further. That is an exciting challenge.”

“There are still marks to hit,” he said. “A lot of shot putters are extremely strong. They bench press 500 pounds and squat 700 pounds [but] I’m nowhere close to that yet. The world record is definitely an ambition. If I can be more consistent next year then the outlier will be at an even higher level.”

Clayton (centre) crosses the line ahead of USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson (left) and Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith, in the women’s 100m final. (Photo: AFP)

Campbell is not fazed by World Athletics’s rejection of his application to switch allegiance to Türkiye in time for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“There are two more years left until the Olympics, which gives me time to become even better. Over there I want to represent Türkiye. The Turkish federation has given me all the support that I was missing, and it pays off immediately. I’m in my best shape ever.”

Campbell broke his Jamaican national record for the fifth time this year. His first-round 22.25m would have been enough to win, with American Jordan Geist second with 22.23m and Kovacs third with 22.09m.

He improved the Jamaican record to 22.34m in China in May, then threw 22.44m in June in Zagreb, Croatia, and 22.59m in Brescia, Italy, last weekend.

Jamaica’s Tina Clayton celebrates winning the women’s 100m final. (Photo: AFP)

Clayton, who joined Veronica Campbell Brown, four-time winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, three-time winner Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shericka Jackson as Jamaican winners of the women’s 100m Diamond Trophy, dedicated her victory to the late Stephen Francis.

“I guess it’s kind of a perfect night, because winning the Diamond League final is something special. We all want to go home with the trophy and, to be honest, there were a lot of candidates for the title. Tonight I was the most determined athlete, and that made the difference,” she said.

She said she was not bothered by the time she ran.

“I’m satisfied with the time of 10.93, especially because it was a little bit too cold for sprinting. I would like to dedicate this victory to my coach, Stephen Francis, who passed away early this year. It’s very emotional but I have my family, the team around me that gives me all the support I need.”

USA’s Alyssa Jones gets airborne in the women’s long jump. (Photo: AFP)

Great Britain’s Amy Hunt was second in 11.06 seconds, followed by American Sha’Carri Richardson in 11.07 seconds, with Jonielle Smith placing fifth in 11.08 seconds.

Nickisha Pryce was third in the women’s 400m, running 49.36 seconds as Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic ran a meeting record 48.64 seconds to win her fourth Diamond Trophy in the past five years.

She lowered Sanya Richards-Ross’s 48.83 seconds record set in 2009, with Norway’s Henriette Jæger finishing second in 49.20 seconds.

Megan Simmonds ran a season’s best 12.43 seconds (1.0m/s) for third in the 100m hurdles, which was won by world record holder Masai Russell in a meeting record 12.20 seconds — under the 12.27 seconds set in 2022 by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.

Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos celebrates setting a meeting record of 46.70 seconds after winning the men’s 400m hurdles final. (Photo: AFP)

Devynne Charlton broke her own Bahamian national record with 12.33 seconds to take second.

Jordan Scott was third in the men’s triple jump, with 17.18m (0.2m/s) in the first round, as Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez jumped 17.74m (0.6m/s) to win and break Christian Taylor’s 17.66m mark set in 2019. Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo was second with 17.51m (0.0m/s).

Lamara Distin was sixth in the women’s high jump final with 1.88m, while Sabrina Dockery won the invitational women’s 100m final in 11.17 seconds (0.1m/s), beating Australia’s Torrie Lewis, who ran 11.24 seconds, and Spain’s Jael Bestue who clocked 11.28 seconds.

Kadrian Goldson was second in the men’s invitational 100m in 10.05 seconds (-0.2m/s), behind Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu who ran 10.04 seconds. Max Thomas of the United States was third in 10.23 seconds.

Campbell prepares to launch the shot put implement. (Photo: AFP)