Clayton, Smith lead Ja’s day two charge in Brussels

SEVEN Jamaicans will be in action on today’s second and final day of the Wanda Diamond League Finals at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.

Tina Clayton and Jonielle Smith will lead the charge in the women’s 100 metres.

Clayton and Smith will line up in what promises to be one of the most competitive races of the evening, with American sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, Britain’s Amy Hunt, New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs, Italy’s Zaynab Dosso and Luxembourg’s Patrizia van der Weken also in the field.

Clayton enters the race with a season’s best 10.85 seconds and personal best of 10.76, while Smith has already clocked 10.89 this season, matching her personal best.

Another major attraction will be the 100m hurdles, where Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds will face newly crowned world record holder Masai Russell of the United States.

Russell arrives in Brussels just days after producing a stunning 12.09 seconds in Zurich to erase Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan’s previous world record of 12.12.

Simmonds, who has a personal best of 12.34 and a season’s best 12.47, will be aiming to produce one of her best performances of the season against the world’s leading sprint hurdler.

Nickisha Pryce will also be hoping to make her mark in the women’s 400 metres. Pryce has a season’s-best 49.27 seconds and personal best of 48.57 and will face a quality field headed by world champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who owns the fastest time in the field this season at 48.48

Lamara Distin will also be in action in the women’s high jump, where she will face a formidable field including Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh and world champion Nicola Olyslagers.

Distin enters with a season’s best 1.98 metres.

Commonwealth Games champion Jordan Scott will contest the men’s triple jump, where he enters as one of the leading contenders. Scott has a season’s and personal best of 17.69m and will face a strong field including Pedro Pichardo of Portugal and Andy Diaz Hernandez of Italy.

Rajindra Campbell will also be in action in the men’s shot put.

In a non Diamond League event Sabrina Dockery will contest the women’s Invitational 100m.

JAMAICANS IN ACTION TODAY

11:28 a.m: Shot Put Men – Rajindra Campbell

12:23 p.m:Triple Jump Men – Jordan Scott

1:004 p.m: 400M Women – Nickisha Pryce

1:10 p.m.: High Jump Women – Lamara Distin

1:14 p.m: 100m Women - Tina Clayton, Jonielle Smith

2:10 p.m: 100m Hurdles Women - Megan Simmonds

– Raymond Graham