Ricketts, the only Ja winner in Gateshead

Raymond Graham/Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's athletes had mixed fortune on a cold, rainy and windy day at yesterday's Wanda Diamond League in Gateshead, England. Triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts was the only Jamaican winner on the day as World 100 metres champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce finished fourth in her first 100 metres race of the season.

After posting the leading distance of 14.40 metres in the early rounds of her event, Ricketts, in the new look field events format where only the top three advance after the fifth round, captured the event with 14.29m ahead of Portugal's Patricia Mamona with 13.32m. Jamaica's Kimberly Williams ended fourth with a best of 14.15m. She did not advance to the final round.

"It was brutal," Ricketts said in describing the conditions at the meet. "I am just so happy I didn't end up injured. It was really hard to focus on technical things and not very conducive to getting good jumps. On the final three (concept) I was a bit sceptical but it is something we need to get used to." In the women's 100 metres, Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith who appeared unfazed by the unfavourable conditions, ran a strong race from start to finish to win in 11.35 seconds in a negative wind of 3.1 metres per second, ahead of pre race favourite, the red hot American Sha'Carrie Richardson, 11. 44. Third went to Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.48) of Cote D'Ivoire as Fraser-Pryce clocked 11.51 for fourth. Natasha Morrison was seventh in 11.77.

"I feel really good. Conditions were far from ideal for sprinting but the most important thing is to come away with a good result and I was very happy to do that," Asher-Smith said after her win. Richardson said she was happy with her race."I am definitely proud that I was able to execute and now I know what I need to go back and work on and what I need to be better at," said while adding that she was looking forward to running in some sunshine next week in Doha. Four other Jamaicans had top three finishes at the meet. Stephenie Ann McPherson (51.96) was second in the women's 400 metres won in 51.86 by American Kendall Ellis. Shericka Jackson was sixth in 53.40. "I came out here just to see where I'm at but conditions were not good to run in. I am grateful to come out her and finish injury-free," McPherson said. Danniel Thomas-Dodd was also second in the women's shot put with 18.12 metres behind Auriol Dongmo of Portugal, 18.16m. Janieve Russell was third in the women's 400m hurdles in 57.16 seconds while World champion Tajay Gayle was also third in the men's long jump with 7.91m. Italy's Filippo Randazzo, 8.11m, won the event.