Richards breaks national record at Rabat Diamond League

A national men's shot put record  by O'Dayne Richards and a sixth sub-11 second clocking this season by Elaine Thompson to win the women's 100 metres,  were the top performances by Jamaican athletes at the Rabat Diamond League meet Morocco on Sunday.

World Championship bronze medallist Richards smashed his own national shot putt record to claim a second place finish. His 21.96 metre effort bettered the previous record of 21.69 metres he set twice in 2015. American Ryan Crouser won the event with a monsterous 22.43 metre effort.

Thompson extended her unbeaten streak over the 100 metres to 14 races after fending off Olympic finalist Marie Jose Talou to win in 10.87 seconds.

Talou clocked 10.90 with World Championship-bound Jura Levy 11.18 and Christania Williams 11.28 ending 8th and ninth respectively. 

There were also second place finishes for Kimberly Williams and Janieve Russell. Williams leapt 14.31 in the triple jump which went to world and Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia with 14.51 metres.

Russell who failed to book an automatic spot to the World Championships, had another strong effort by finishing second in the women's 400 metre hurdles. She clocked 54.36 to place behind world champion Zusana Hejnova who won in 54.22. National champion Ronda Whyte finished 8th in 56.00 well off the 54.27 she ran to win the national title in June. Ristannana Tracey took the ‘B’ race in 55.18 with her sister Nikita third in 55.35.

Novlene Williams-Mills 51.18 and Shericka Jackson 51.20, placed 4th and 5th respectively in the women's 400 metres won by Bahamian Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in a meet record 49.80 seconds, easing down.

Rasheed Dwyer 20.43 and Warren Weir 20.48 were 6th and 7th respectively in the men's 200 metres, won by Canadian Andre De Grasse in another meet record, 20.03 seconds.