Marcell Jacobs Sprints to Victory with Season-Best Time at Paavo Nurmi Games

Posted by: Watch Athletics

 

At the Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in Turku, Italy's Marcell Jacobs delivered his fastest 100m performance outside of the Olympics, clocking an impressive time on Tuesday. The Olympic gold medalist shone brightly among a host of other global champions in Finland's historic city.

Jacobs made a powerful statement in a clash of Olympic titans, breaking the 10-second barrier in both his preliminary heat and the final, ultimately winning in 9.92 seconds (1.5m/s). As he gears up to defend his Olympic 100m title in Paris this August, Jacobs recorded the third fastest time of his career, surpassed only by his performances during his Olympic victory in Tokyo.

Leading an Italian one-two finish, Jacobs was closely followed by Chituru Ali, who achieved his first career sub-10-second sprint, clocking 9.96 seconds. Canada’s Olympic 200m champion, Andre De Grasse, secured third place with a time of 10.00 seconds.

Eight days ago in Rome, Jacobs won the European 100m tile, clocking 10.02 seconds.

Marcell Jacobs: “Before today I was a bit worried that I had not run 10 seconds yet, but it’s part of the game and I have done it twice. In the heats I had a really good start. The last part was average. In the final it was the other way around, so we need to put the pieces together. I am happy with my seasonal best. I am improving race after race. The track is very fast. I predicted this time with my coach Rana Reider. This result confirms that I am working very well. I am very happy that Chituru Ali broke the 10 seconds barrier. He ran a very good race. He is like my younger brother ”.

Paavo Nurmi Games Results

100m Men Final wind +1.5

Pos.AthleteCountryMark
1.Lamont Marcell JACOBSITA9.92
2.Chituru ALIITA9.96
3.Andre DE GRASSECAN10.00
4.Benjamin AZAMATIGHA10.14
5.Jerome BLAKECAN10.17
6.Markus FUCHSAUT10.21
7.Riku ILLUKKAFIN10.32
8.Karl Erik NAZAROVEST10.43

100m Men Heat 1 Wind +3.2

Pos.AthleteCountryMark
1.Chituru ALIITA10.01
2.Benjamin AZAMATIGHA10.12
3.Henrik LARSSONSWE10.15
4.Markus FUCHSAUT10.18
5.Karl Erik NAZAROVEST10.39
6.Samuli SAMUELSSONFIN10.43
7.Axel NISULAFIN10.63
8.Arttu TAURIAINENFIN10.67

100m Men Heat 2 wind +1.4

Pos.AthleteCountryMark
1.Lamont Marcell JACOBSITA9.99
2.Andre DE GRASSECAN10.15
3.Jerome BLAKECAN10.25
4.Riku ILLUKKAFIN10.34
5.Santeri ÖRNFIN10.47
6.Eino VUORIFIN10.54
7.Samuel PUROLAFIN10.54

Women’s 100 metres hurdles:

Nia Ali, world champion in Doha 2019, won the 100 metres hurdles in 12.48 clocking her second fastest time in 2024, four hundredths of a season shy of her seasonal best of 12.44 set in Gainesville last April. Ali had previously won the heats in 12.51. Two-time European indoor champion Nadine Visser placed second equalling her PB with 12.51. Sarah Lavin from Ireland took third place in 12.66 beating European indoor champion Reetta Hurske (12.82). Jasmine Camacho Quinn pulled up injured in the heats and hobbled off the track.

Nia Ali: “I ran my second fastest time this season. I am happy with my performance. I had a good preparation. The main goal is to remain healthy. The atmosphere of this meeting is amazing”.

110 metres hurdles:

Omar McLeod won the heats of the men’s 110 metres hurdles in 13.29 before claiming first place in a seasonal best of 13.25. Mcleod continued his come-back after winnning three of his four races earlier this season. Elie Bacari from Belgium took second place in 13.38.

Omar McLeod: “I feel that I found the speed again. I have room for improvement. This race is a step in the right direction”.

Women’s pole vault:

World champion Nina Kennedy from Australia soared to women’s pole vault victory improving her seasonal best to 4.80m. Kennedy needed just five attempts to get to the winning mark. She opened with a first-time clearance of 4.41m and passed to 4.61m. She cleared this height at the first time of asking and needed two attempts to clear 4.73m. She then vaulted 4.80m on her first attempt.

Kennedy made three unsuccessful attempts at 4.87m. Lene Onsrud Retzius from Norway finished second with 4.61m beating 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Alysha Newman on countback. World finalist Elisa Molinarolo cleared 4.51m in her first attempt to take fourth place with 4.51m.

Nina Kennedy: “I came to Europe two days ago. I came close to 4.87m. The crowd was amazing”.

Men’s javelin throw:

Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra from India won the men’s javelin throw with a mark of 85.97m in the third round. Chopra produced four more valid throws of 83.62m, 83.45m and 82.21m. Chopra achieved his first win in Turku two years after finishing second to Finland’s Oliver Helander in 2022. Toni Keraenen from Finland took second place with a PB of 84.19m beating his compatriot Oliver Helander (83.96m) and two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada (82.58m). 

Women’s hammer throw: 

Reigning world champion Camryn Rogers from Canada won the women’s hammer throw with 73.36m in the first attempt. Rogers backed up this mark with two more valid throws of 73.33m in the third round and 72.53m in the sixth round. The Canadian athlete achieved the qualifying standard for the Olympic Games with a throw of 76.95m at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational earlier this season. She achieved her third win in four competitions. 

Silja Kosonen from Finland, world under 20 champion in Nairobi 2021, finished runner-up with 71.67m in the second attempt. Katrine Jacobsen from Denmark took third place with 70.57m beating three-time Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk on countback thanks to her second best throw of 70.21m. Sara Fantini, European champion in Rome, finished fifth with 69.45m.

Men’s 800 metres:

World indoor silver medallist Andreas Kramer won the men’s 800 metres race from gun to tape in 1:44.65 holding off Mark English from Ireland, who improved the national record to 1:44.69. Benjamin Robert from France also dipped under 1:45 to finish third in 1:44.79.

Women’s 800 metres:

Gabriela Gajanova from Slovakia won the women’s 800 metres in 1:59.57 one week after finishing second at the European Championships in Rome behind Keely Hodgkinson. Evelina Maatainen from Finland finished second in 2:00.30 ahead of Lena Kandissounon from France (2:00.49), Catriona Bisset from Australia (2:00.61) and Renelle Lamote from France (2:00.76).

Women’s triple jump:

Two-time world silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts leapt to 14.17m (+1.1 m/s) in the first round to win the women’s triple jump ahead of European indoor silver medallist Dariya Derkach from Italy, who jumped a wind-assisted 14.08m.

Women’s high jump:

Ella Junnila from Finland cleared 1.97m in her first attempt to win the women’s high jump to the delight of her home fans. Junnila added one cm to her PB and achieved the Olympic qualifying standard. Eleanor Patterson, world champion in Eugene 2022, finished runner-up with 1.94m.

Men’s 400 metres hurdles:

Rasmus Magi from Estonia won the men’s 400 metres hurdles in 48.42 one week after finishing fourth at the European Championships in Rome in 48.13. Magi set the Estonian record of 47.82 at last year’s edition of the Paavo Nurmi Games meeting in Turku. Berke Ackam from Turkey, world under 20 champion in Nairobi 2021 and fifth at the European Championships in Rome, took second place in 48.69 ahead of Munich 2022 European silver medallist Wilfried Happio from France (48.75).

Women’s 400 metres hurdles:

Kemi Adekoya from Barhein won her first 400 metres hurdles race of the season in 54.37 beating Lina Nielsen from Great Britain (55.25), Zeney Geldenuys from South Africa (55.42) and Linda Olivieri from Italy (55.78).

Men’s 1500 metres:

Cathal Doyle from Ireland won the men’s 1500 metres improving his PB to 3:34.09. Luke McCann completed the Irish double in second place in 3:34.22. PBs were set by Stefan Nillessen (3:34.32), Marius Probst from Austria (3:34.54) and Emmiyas Girma from Ethiopia (3:34.73). Finland’s Joonas Rinne improved the national record to 3:35.20 in front of his home fans.

Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase:

Abraham Seme won the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase in a seasonal best of 8:17.22 beating Ben Buckingham from Australia (8:21.34), Emil Blomberg from Sweden (8:21.40) and Yassin Bouih from Italy (8:22.01).

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