DIAMOND HUNT!

SHOT PUTTER Danniel Thomas Dodd will be the first Jamaican in action on today’s opening day of the grand finale of the two-day Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League Athletics meeting, where 14 Jamaicans will be vying for top prize of US$30,000 and Diamond Trophies in each event.

After months of exciting and close battles where the top athletes were rewarded with points, the stage is now set for the best of the best where in addition to prize winnings, the winner of each event will get a wild card entry to next year’s World Championships in Budapest.

Thomas Dodd, who will be competing at 9:05 a.m. Jamaica time, will be one of two Jamaicans who will be involved in field-event action as triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts, the World Championships silver medallist, will bow into action on tomorrow’s second day at 10:35 a.m. Once again her major threat is expected from World champion and favourite, Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela.

Twelve Jamaicans will be in action on the track and all eyes will be on the women’s 100 metres, which is scheduled for 1:23 p.m. tomorrow, with two of three Jamaicans set for a big battle.

World Championships gold medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, leads the cast and will take on World Championship silver medallist, Shericka Jackson, and Natasha Morrison. Another top Jamaican sprinter, World Championships bronze medallist and former Diamond League winner, Elaine Thompson Herah, was scheduled for participation. However, she has pulled out of the event.

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Fraser-Pryce, who was surprised by Jackson last weekend in Brussels for her only defeat of the season, will be hoping to avenge that defeat. Jackson, on the other hand, will be motivated for the double as she is also slated to compete in the 200 metres, where she is the big favourite to cop that event. The United States’ Aleia Hobbs and Josee Marie Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast are other worthy contenders in the women’s 100m.

Also, it should be another titanic clash in the women’s 100m hurdles, which is set to get under way at 12:25 p.m. This has been one of the most competitive events in track all season and again, it looks the most competitive event on the programme. Jamaica’s Britany Anderson, the World Championships silver medallist, who has lost a little form since her Eugene run, will be hoping to end on a high.

World record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, and Kendra Harrison and Tia Jones of the United States, along with Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico, are sure to make this a humdinger of an event, in which we could witness a new world record.

Janieve Russell and Rushell Clayton are down to contest the women’s 400m hurdles in which they have been running fairly well throughout the season, while Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Candice McLeod will go in the women’s 400 metres, and Natoya Goule in the women’s 800 metres.

Three Jamaican men are down to compete at the meet, led by the red-hot Rasheed Broadbell in the men’s 110-metre hurdles, where he will have Hansle Parchment as company.

Broadbell is in the form of his life and has been unbeaten in Europe since the World Championships. He will be hoping to continue his winning form over the World champion, Grant Halloway of the United States, who he has beaten twice this season. Both athletes have a season best of 12.99 seconds.

Yohan Blake will line up in the men’s 100-metre finals, where he will take on the United States duo of Trayvon Bromell and Kyree King, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine.

SCHEDULE FOR JAMAICANS

WEDNESDAY

9:55 a.m. Danniel Thomas Dodd - Women’s Shot Put

THURSDAY

10:35 a.m. Shanieka Ricketts - Women Triple Jump

12:04 p.m. Candice McLeod, Stephenie Ann McPherson - Women’s 400M

12:25 p.m. Britany Anderson - Women’s 100M Hurdles

12:52 p.m. Rasheed Broadbell, Hansle Parchment - Men’s 110M Hurdles

1:23 p.m. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison, Shericka Jackson - Women’s 100M

1:49 p.m. Yohan Blake - Men’s 100M

1:59 p.m. Janieve Russell, Rushell Clayton - Women’s 400M Hurdles

2:19 p.m. Natoya Goule - Women’s 800M

2:42 p.m. Shericka Jackson - Women’s 200M