Miller-Uibo, Ricketts mine diamonds in Zurich
By	Leighton Levy August 29, 2019
IAAF/DiamondLeague
Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Shanieka Ricketts won diamonds in the 200m and triple jump respectively at the first of two Diamond League finals in Zurich on Thursday.
Miller-Uibo, known more as a 400m specialist scorched a talented field to win the 200m in a world-leading 21.74s, a new personal best, Diamond League record and national record.
The Bahamian sprint queen took control of the race from the gun and powered away to a convincing win.
"Oh my gosh! It is a blessing. This is my last run before the World Championships," the Bahamian sprint queen said afterwards.
"My coach did a great job. I am in great shape. It is just a blessing. I am very happy about it. I am very excited. This is my second PB in Zurich; I guess it's a good track for me."
In her wake was the 2019 British champion Dina Asher-Smith, who was several metres behind in 22.08, a season's best.
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson, who said on Wednesday that she was coming into the meet heavily loaded, was third in a relatively pedestrian 22.44.
Earlier, Shanieka Ricketts who has been consistently jumping 14.70m and over this season uncorked a new personal best 14.93m to pull off a convincing win. Finishing second was Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas, who has jumps of 15.11 and 15.05 this season, but was only able to must a best jump of 14.74m.
Cuban Liadagmis Povea's bestDuia mark of 14.49m landed her the bronze medal.
Still in the pit, Jamaica's Tajay Gayle's 8.20m effort was only good enough for third in the men's long jump.
South Africa's Rushwahl Samaai beat Gayle to second by virtue of being better on the countback even though he too registered a best mark of 8.20m.
However, neither was a match for Cuba's Juan Miguel Echevarria who set a new meet record of 8.65m, which was also a world lead and Diamond League record.
Yohan Blake clocked 10.07s for third in the men's 100m won by the USA's Noah Lyles in 9.98. China's Zhenye Xie was second in 10.04.
Kyron McMaster could be forgiven for looking a bit out of sorts when he finished third in the race of the meet, the 400m hurdles. In only his second race since returning from injury, McMaster ran 48.58s well short of his personal best of 47.54.
Nevertheless, even if he had run his best time he would have still been well behind race winner Karsten Warholm of Norway who ran the second-fastest time in history, a world-leading 46.92s to win a stirring battle with Rai Benjamin of the United States who crossed just behind in 46.98.
The winning time was a world lead, a personal best, a Diamond League record and Area record. Benjamin's time was a personal best.
shaunae milleruibo
shanieka ricketts
tajay gayle
yohan blake
« McPherson surprises Paris field from outside lane Danielle Williams destroys the field to win Diamond League title and a spot in Doha »
Leighton Levy
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years' experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Latest from Leighton Levy
Graeme West backs Windies U19s to show their quality
Statue of Asafa Powell to be unveiled February 9
Fraser-Pryce, Gayle named Jamaica's athletes of the year
World Champions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Tajay Gayle were named the 2019 RJRGleaner Sports Foundation Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year in an awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus on Friday.
Fraser-Pryce saw the award presented to her for a fourth time, having previously claimed the honour in 2012, 2013 and 2015. The recognition capped off an exceptional season for the diminutive sprinter who previously became the only athlete to win the 100m World Championship title on four occasions with triumph in Doha.
Quartermiler Shericka Jackson, who claimed three gold medals at the World Championships, with bronze in the 400m and 4x400m along with gold in the 4x100m, was runner up behind Fraser-Pryce.
The year was also an exceptional one for Gayle. The athlete created history at the Doha World Championships after upstaging Juan Miguel Echevarria to claim top spot. The winning jump was the longest in the world in 10 years. It was also the farthest distance recorded at the World Championships since Ivan Pedroso's 8.70m leap in Gothenburg, recorded some 24 years ago.
Fedrick Dacres, the World Championships discus silver medallist, was voted runner up to the Sportsman of the Year. The other male nominees were Christopher Binnie (squash), Yona Knight-Wisdom (diving) and Travis Smikle (athletics). Fraser-Pryce and Jackson were joined by Alia Atkinson (swimming) and Rushell Clayton, Natoya Goule, Shanieka Ricketts, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, Elaine Thompson and Danielle Williams.
Briana Williams has gone pro!
The 17-year-old Jamaican, who had an outstanding year in 2019, has signed a multi-year contract with Nike. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Recognized as one of the rising stars in track and field having won the sprint double at the World U20 Championships in Tampere in 2018, Williams was courted by a number of shoe companies with PUMA and Nike being the frontrunners.
Nike eventually won the right to the signature of the talented teen, whose coach Ato Boldon confirmed the signing to Sportsmax.TV.
"Briana has had people dedicated to her abilities for many years. Even before me, Coach Tennessee and Coach Damion Thomas, have done right by her," Boldon said.
"I was just handed the baton for this leg of the race, but I've been around this industry a long time and for a company like Nike, who can back anyone, to put this level of support behind Briana, makes all of the work over the last five years, worth it. She is extremely blessed and fortunate to be where she is at just 17."
Williams, who turns 18 in March, said the Nike deal has provided a platform for her to chase her dreams.
"I'm extremely proud. I have come a long way. This is a big deal for me because I'm young but I'm ready to show the world what I am capable of," said Williams who now belongs to the group (HSI) that includes indoor 400m WR holder Mike Norman and world champions Christian Coleman and Dalilah Muhammad.
"I'm glad that Nike gave me this opportunity. It means the world to me as a girl with big dreams."
The year 2019 was a big year for Williams. She won the 100m at the NACAC U18 Championships in Mexico and the Pan Am U20 Championships in Costa Rica during the year in which she ran unbeaten at the junior level.
She also won the Austin Sealy Award at the CARIFTA Games for the second year running after winning three gold medals, duplicating her achievements in 2018. In June, she set a Jamaican junior record of 11.02s in New Mexico.
Track & Field News, considered the bible of the sport, recognized her stellar year by naming her their High School Athlete of the Year for 2019.
The prodigious teen suffered a setback during the year when she returned an adverse finding for a banned diuretic found in her urine sample at the Jamaican National Championships in June where she finished third in the 100m behind two-time Olympic champions Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
As such, her time of 10.94s, which would have been a U18 world record and a national junior record for Jamaica, was subsequently struck from the record books.
Following a hearing before an Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel in September, Williams was reprimanded but was free to compete. However, due to how late the verdict came, her chances of competing at the 2019 World Championships in Doha were effectively dashed.
The statue of former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell will be unveiled at the National Stadium on Sunday, February 9 at 4:00 pm.
Popular Athletics News
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce up for prestigious Laureus Sportswom…
'Let us run' – Fraser-Pryce insists athletes must retire o…