Kirani James captures the men’s 400 metres

Grenadian Kirani James captured the men’s 400 metres in the season-ending Diamond League meet while Jamaican Shericka Jackson beat World champion Sha’Carri Richardson to win the 100 metres at the Prefontaine Classic, recently.

James clocked a season-best 44.30 to cross the line first and follow up on his Xiamen Diamond League success earlier this month.

American Quincy Hall, a bronze medallist in Budapest, finished second in 44.44 while fellow countryman Vernon Norwood, a 400m relay gold medallist in the Hungarian capital, ended third in 44.61.

In a tight race, the 29-year-old Jackson made up for a slow start by storming through in lane six to take victory in a time of 10.70 seconds.

She was followed by Marie Jose Ta Lou of Côte d’Ivoire who clocked a season-best 10.75 to be second while reigning Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica, finished third in a season-best 10.79. Richardson, who won the World title in Budapest last month, could only end fourth in 10.80.

For Jackson, the victory was her first over Richardson in four 100m outings this campaign.

World bronze medallist Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands, meanwhile, finished third in the men’s 400m hurdles behind winner American Rai Benjamin who clocked a world-leading 45.39 seconds.In the women’s triple jump, World champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela produced a world-leading leap of 15.35 metres to win the event, leaving the Jamaican pair of Shanieka Ricketts (15.03) and Kimberly Williams (14.61) at second and third respectively.