Hibbert the next superstar?
JAYDON HIBBERT is set to become Jamaica’s next track and field superstar and at the Racers Grand Prix last Saturday he showed just how good he is.
The 19-year-old triple jumper lit up the National Stadium with a massive world lead, a meet record, a stadium record and a season’s best of 17.75 metres.
With his effortless style and quality many fans already see him as the favourite for the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
After a decent start with his first attempt of 16.45m, Hibbert immediately separated himself from the pack with a second attempt of 17.14m.
Hibbert extended his lead with his final two attempts, first reaching a mark of 17.30m in his third jump before closing the night with the world lead.
“I was satisfied with the third and fourth jump of the series,” he said. “Obviously, getting the rounds in with my first time using the 14-steps since Budapest. I didn’t train with it no time this week, I only did like four-stride jumps just to reinforce the technique.
“I don’t really focus on the other guys. Shout out to them, they are great athletes but I’m just focused on my progress because at the end of the day, I am the only one on the runway.”
Hibbert’s 17.75m puts him ahead of Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez (17.61m), Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun of Spain (17.55m) and Hugues Fabrice Zango of Angola with 17.53m. Zango is the World outdoor and indoor triple jump champion.
Sprinter Oblique Seville also had a glorious night as he produced a world lead in the 100 metres and in the process humbling American World champion Noah Lyles.
Seville had a blistering start to his race and ran away from his rivals. He even had time at the end to ease down and look across at Lyles before crossing the line in 9.82 seconds. Lyles was second in 9.85 and reigning African 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala, third in 10.02.
Seville said the win was an achievement not just for himself, but for the Jamaica’s men’s sprinting reputation.
“My thoughts about the race was that I was coming to deliver in front of my Jamaican fans as I mentioned,” he said. “Back then with Usain Bolt and others, you know you have to showboat and everything that they usually do. You have to actually show the Americans that Jamaica is still up with the sprinting so that was the reason why.”
“Overall, the race was great; I came out here and ran exactly what I thought I would run, which is anywhere faster than 9.88,” Lyles told the World Athletics website worldathletics.org.
Another headliner of the night was St Lucia’s Julien Alfred. A familiar face to the National Stadium, Alfred was a class above the field in the women’s 100m as she set a new personal best and a St Lucian national record when she equalled the meet record of 10.78 set by Shericka Jackson last year.
Following her home was Jamaica’s Krystal Sloley who continued her good form this season as she lowered her personal best for the third time this year, dipping below the 11-second barrier with a lifetime best of 10.99. Shashalee Forbes was third in 11.05.
Stacey-Ann Williams took the women’s 400m event in an Olympic qualifying mark of 50.86 seconds with compatriot Cherokee Young was third in 51.86. American Lynna IrbyJackson took second clocking 51.05.
In the men’s event, it was a close contest down the homestretch as Nigerian Emmanuel Bamidele edged teenager Roshawn Clarke for the win. Bamidele crossed the line first in 45.49, just ahead of Clarke, 45.57 while Zandrion Barnes was third in 45.62.