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Record-Breaking Runs and Upsets Define 2023 Eugene Diamond League Final
At the conclusion of the 2023 Prefontaine Classic and Eugene Diamond League Final on September 17, standout performances included a sprinting double by Shericka Jackson, a startling win by Hansle Parchment in the high hurdles, a 200m victory by Andre De Grasse, and Athing Mu’s record-breaking 800m sprint.
Shericka Jackson of Jamaica secured a win in the women’s 200m with a remarkable 21.57 seconds, adding to her 100m title from the previous day. Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou came in second with a time of 22.10, followed by Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas, clocking 22.16 seconds. Completing the top four was American Twanisha Terry, finishing at 22.21 seconds.
Jackson mentioned that collecting two trophies had been a goal. “I didn’t get two trophies last year, and I rewrote that again, that I wanted two trophies this year. I got it, and I’m grateful.”
Hansle Parchment of Jamaica turned heads in the men’s 110m hurdles, registering a world-leading and personal best of 12.93 seconds, beating American Grant Holloway’s 13.06. Daniel Roberts, another American, secured third with a time of 13.07. “Got the PR, got the win, so I’m very happy about that,” Parchment reflected on his less than ideal start.
In the men’s 200m race, Andre De Grasse from Canada clinched first, crossing the finish line at 19.76 seconds. He was closely followed by Americans Kenneth Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton, who completed the race in 19.95 and 19.97 seconds, respectively.
“It’s been a challenging season, but I gotta finish strong, give it my best, and try to come away with something I can learn going into next year,” De Grasse commented.
During the women’s 800m, Athing Mu from the United States and Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson dueled until the last meters, with Mu ultimately establishing a new American record at 1:54.97. Hodgkinson finished second with a time of 1:55.19, while Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin followed at 1:55.96; both also set national records.
Mu noted her performance, saying, “I felt really new and refreshed, and I’m just happy — I wasn’t even hoping for the American Record, I was just hoping for a PR, but I knew I could do something fast if I could just relax and compete.”
In discus, Valarie Allman from the United States hurled the discus 68.66m, surpassing American world champion Laulauga Tausaga, who threw 68.36m.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi from Kenya emerged first in the men’s 800m, setting a personal best, world-leading and meeting record time of 1:42.80. Canada’s Marco Arop narrowly missed the top spot but set a national record, finishing at 1:42.85.
In the men’s long jump, Simon Ehammer of Switzerland and Jamaican Tajay Gayle both recorded a distance of 8.22m.
For the men’s shot put, Joe Kovacs of the United States snatched the first spot with a throw of 22.93m, just surpassing fellow American and world champion Ryan Crouser, who threw 22.91m.
Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic led the women’s 400m, clocking 49.58 seconds. She was followed by Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek and Dutch competitor Lieke Klaver, finishing at 50.38 and 50.47 seconds, respectively.
Nigerian Tobi Amusan led the pack in the women’s 100m hurdles, finishing in 12.33 seconds. Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and American Kendra Harrison followed closely, finishing at 12.38 and 12.44 seconds, respectively.
Dutch athlete Femke Bol concluded the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 51.98 seconds, followed by American Shamier Little at 53.45 and Jamaican Rushell Clayton at 53.56 seconds.
By Anthony Foster for NACAC Athletics
