Oakley to make pro debut at Prefontaine Classic

Quarter-miler Dejanea Oakley will make her professional debut at this weekend’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, the ninth stop of the Wanda Diamond League.

The two-day meet, which starts on Friday, will see a record 17 Jamaicans in action and promises several heavyweight clashes on the track and in the field.

Oakley will be the lone Jamaican competing on Friday when she lines up in the women’s 400 metres. The former collegiate star clocked a personal best and world-leading 48.79 seconds at the same venue during the NCAA Division One Outdoor Championships a few weeks ago. However, she was displaced at the top of the world rankings by the Dominican Republic’s Olympic champion, Marileidy Paulino, who ran a season-best and world-leading 48.48 to win at last Sunday’s Paris Diamond League.

Both athletes will clash in what should be an acid test for the Jamaican, who is still unbeaten this season and will be hoping to regain the world lead. Also expected to challenge are Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo (49.47), American Aaliyah Butler (49.78), and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, whose season’s best is only 51.56 but who owns a personal best of 48.14.

Saturday’s programme is expected to be even more exciting, with the women’s 100 metres stealing the spotlight. The field resembles an Olympic or World Championships final, with six of the world’s top-10 ranked sprinters set to compete.

Five Jamaicans are entered, led by World Championship silver medallist Tina Clayton, who has a season’s best 10.85. She will be joined by national champion Shericka Jackson (10.81), Tia Clayton (10.91), Jonielle Smith, and Brianna Lyston, both of whom have run 10.94 this season.

Leading the field is British Virgin Islands sensation Adaejah Hodge, the world’s fastest woman this year following her stunning 10.63 in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships.

The United States will also be strongly represented by Sha’Carri Richardson, who posted a season’s best 10.77 in Florida two weeks ago, along with world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (10.84), Tamari Davis (10.99) and Great Britain’s Amy Hunt (10.97). There will be two rounds, with the eight fastest advancing to the final.

Women’s 100m hurdles

Another event expected to draw major attention is the women’s 100m hurdles, where a new world record could be under threat. World leader and unbeaten American Masai Russell, who has run 12.14 this season, looks set for something special.

World record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria is also in fine form after equalling her season’s best of 12.28 to win in Paris. Americans Grace Stark (12.38) and Bahamian Devynne Charlton (12.37) should also make for a thrilling contest while Jamaicans Danielle Williams (12.59) and Ackera Nugent (12.61) will be hoping for big improvements.

Levell back

World Championship 200m bronze medallist Bryan Levell, with a season’s best of 19.93, returns from injury in the men’s 200 metres and will be joined by fellow Jamaican Adrian Kerr (20.28). World champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana leads the field with 19.84, while Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba has also broken the 20-second barrier with 19.88.

World Championship silver medallist Orlando Bennett (13.20) and bronze medallist Tyler Mason, who will make his season debut, are down for the men’s 110m hurdles. The event also features three men, who have run under 13 seconds this season, including new world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp of the United States (12.75) along with compatriots Jamal Britt (12.89) and Kendrick Smallwood (12.95).

In the field events, Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell, fresh off his national record of 22.44 metres in Zagreb last week, will contest the men’s shot put against a strong field that includes world leader Joe Kovacs of the United States (22.58m) and Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, who has thrown 22.50m this season.

Roje Stona (68.47m) and Ralford Mullings (65.92m) will lead Jamaica’s challenge in the men’s discus against a world-class field featuring Australia’s Matthew Denny (73.68m), Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh (72.61m), and Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna (70.60m).

Though not a Diamond League event at the Prefontaine Classic, the men’s 100 metres has also invited some interest with world 100m champion Oblique Seville, who is also the world leader with 9.82 seconds, along with Ackeem Blake, who has a best of 9.94, are down to compete. The United States’ Trayvon Bromell (9.91) and Kenny Bednarek (9.98) will also compete.