Photo: CMC
Eugene, Oregon, Jul 19 (CMC) – Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts captured silver in the women’s triple jump for a straight World Championships while her country’s dominant trio of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson cruised into the semi-finals of the women’s 200 metres on day four at Hayward Field Monday.
The 30 year old Ricketts, who was also runner-up in Doha three years ago, measured a season-best 14.89 metres to play second fiddle to Venezuelan Yulimar Rojan who posted a world-leading 15.47.
American Tori Franklyn took bronze in a personal-best 14.72.
“I feel like this one is special in terms of all season, I’ve not been close to 14.8 and to come out tonight and produce 14.89 metres to get the silver medal, I’m just over the moon,” Ricketts said.
“I’m happy, I’m pleased, I feel so proud of myself.”
Cuban Leyanis Pérez Hernández measured a personal-best 14.70 but was forced to settle for fourth while Dominican Thea Lafond (14.56) and the Jamaican pair of Kimberly Williams (14.29) and Ackelia Smith (14.90) all finished out of the running.
Fresh from their podium sweep in the 100m, Fraser-Pryce, Jackson and Thompson-Herah maintained their bid for further glory with impressive performances in the half-lap.
Fraser-Pryce, who won her fifth 100 metres World title on Sunday night, qualified fourth fastest overall in a time of 22.26 seconds, as she finished second in heat three behind Nigerian Aminatou Seyni who produced a national record 21.98.
“I’m still tired from the 100m but I’m glad I qualified,” said Fraser-Pryce, who last completed a World Championship sprint double in Moscow nine years ago.
“I wanted to qualify as easily as I could … I’m just glad I made it through. Hopefully, I don’t get one of those loaded semi-finals where I’m running too hard but I’m grateful I progressed.”
Thompson-Herah, the reigning Olympic champion who claimed her first-ever 100m World medal with bronze two day ago, finished second in heat two in 22.41 as Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi won in a season-best 22.27.
Jackson, meanwhile, a silver medallist behind Fraser-Pryce on Sunday, easily won heat one in 22.33.
The trio were among five Caribbean sprinters advancing to Tuesday’s penultimate round with Bahamian TyNia Gaither (22.61) and Antiguan Joella Lloyd (22.99) also qualifying.
There was no such luck for the British Virgin Islands’ Beyonce Defreitas (23.81) and Bahamiah Anthonique Strachan, the latter pulling up injured in heat six.
In the semi-finals, carded for 6:05 pm (9:05 pm Eastern Caribbean time), Jackson and Gaither will clash in the opening race while semi-final two will see Thompson-Herah and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith going head to head.
Fraser-Pryce and Lloyd will meet in semi-final three.
On the men’s side of the draw, fading Jamaican star Yohan Blake, along with countryman Rasheed Dwyer and Trinidadian Jereem Richards, all advanced to the semi-final of the event.
The 32-year-old Blake, who missed out on the final of the 100 metres, was among the slowest to go through in a time of 20.35 which was good enough for fourth in heat five won by newly crowned 100m champion, American Fred Kerley.
“I’m short of a little work. I didn’t get to do enough work coming into the games because of some unfortunate issues but … I don’t feel too bad,” Blake said afterwards.
“I’m working through some little niggles but looking forward to bettering my time and bettering my places.”
Richards, meanwhile, clocked 20.35 to win heat two ahead of Canada’s Aaron Brown (20.60) while Dwyer was second in heat seven in a season-best 20.29, behind American Noah Lyles (19.98).
Jamaican Ackeem Bloomfield, Trinidadian Eric Harrison and Cuban Shainer Rengifo Montoya all failed to advance to the next round.
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