Ackeem Blake (third left) takes third in Diamond League 100m. (Photo: X/ Wanda Diamond League)
April 20, 2024
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Ackeem Blake placed third in the men’s 100m at Saturday’s opening Wanda Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China, running a season’s best 10.20 seconds (-0.6m/s), the best finish by a Jamaican in the event.
After failing to finish the race in his previous appearance at that stadium, Blake put in a creditable effort to finish behind Americans Christian Coleman- 10.13 seconds and Fred Kerley- 10.17 seconds.
National champion Rohan Watson was fourth in a season’s best 10.27 seconds and former World Champion Yohan Blake ninth in 10.43 seconds.
Olympic champion Hansle Parchment failed to recover from a slow start and finished sixth in the 110m hurdles in 13.33 seconds in his season opener. Orlando Bennett was eighth in 13.58 seconds as American Daniel Roberts won in a world leading 13.11 seconds, beating his compatriot Cordell Tinch- 13.16 seconds, just ahead of Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya who finished third in 13.17 seconds.
-Paul A Reid