Perez Hernandez Flies to World Lead in Triple Jump at Brescia Grand Prix
Leyanis Perez Hernandez delivered a dazzling performance at the second edition of the Brescia Grand Prix – Banca Valsabbina, soaring to a world outdoor lead of 14.92m in the triple jump on a thrilling evening at the Gabre Gabric Stadium. The Cuban star twice reached the mark in the third and fifth rounds at this World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, leading a field packed with Olympic and world medallists. The competition showcased world-class depth across the board, including a 1:43.56 breakthrough by Mohamed Ali Gouaned in the men’s 800m, another strong showing from Marie-Josée Ta Lou in the 100m, and a 76.86m hammer throw victory by Olympic champion Camryn Rogers.
Leyanis Perez Hernandez from Cuba bounded out to a world outdoor lead of 14.92m twice in the third and fifth round at the second edition of the Brescia Grand Prix Bancca Valsabbina at the Gabre Gabric Stadium, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting.
Perez Hernandez backed up this result with two jumps over 14.80m (14.86m in the second round and 14.81m in the sixth round) and 14.66m in the fourth round.
The Cuban triple jumper leapt to 14.93m when she won the world indoor gold medal in Nanjing last March. Her compatriot Liadagmis Povea moved to second on the world seasonal list with 14.84m. Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts took third place with 14.56m. Gabriela Petrova finished fourth with 14.41m.
Women’s hammer throw:
Olympic and world champion Camryn Rogers won the hammer throw with 76.86m. European champion Sara Fantini set her second best performance of the season with 71.38m. Anna Purchase from Great Britain took third place with 71.03m.
Women’s 100 metres:
Marie Josée Ta Lou stormed to her second consecutive win at the Brescia Grand Prix in the women’s 100 metres in 10.92 missing her seasonal best by just two hundredths of a second. US sprinter Maia McCoy finished second in 11.06 ahead of European 200m silver medallist Daryll Neita, who set her seasonal best with 11.12, and Jamaica’s Krystal Sloley (11.17). Italian 15-year-old rising star Kelly Ann Doualla Edimo improved her own Italian under 20 record to 11.29 to the delight of Italian fans. Doualla also set the fourth fastest European under 18 time in history. Only three European athletes ran faster than Doualla at under 18 level in history: Jodie Williams and Xenia Buri with 11.24 and Grit Breuer with 11.26.
Marie Josée Ta Lou: “I train in Brescia during the summer. I love this track. I am happy to finish the race healthy”.
Men’s 800 metres:
Mohamed Ali Gouaned won the men’s 800 metres improving his PB to 1:43.56, the best technical men’s performance of the meeting. Moad Zahafi from Morocco finished second with his seasonal best of 1:43.82 beating Adrian Ben from Spain (1:44.05 seasonal best), Tobias Grondstad (1:44.41 PB), USA’s Callum Dodds (1:44.50), Alvaro De Arriba from Spain improved his PB to 1:44.56 sharing the same time as Catalin Tecuceanu, who improved his seasonal best.
Mohamed Ali Gouaned: “I am happy that I set my PB. I felt in very good shape”.
Men’s 100 metres:
Olympic 4x100 relay champion Jerome Blake from Canada won a close men’s 100 metres race in 10.06 edging Olympic 200 metres champion Letsile Tebogo from Botswana (10.07).
Arnaldo Romero from Cuba, who is based in Italy, won the B race in 10.10.
Letsile Tebogo: “I feel at home in Brescia. I am looking forward to running under 10 seconds again. My next goal is to compete in London on Saturday. I am aiming to winning a medal at the World Championships in Tokyo”
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
USA’s Alia Armstrong claimed an upset win in the women’s 100 metres hurdles in 12.53 ahead of Olympic champion Masai Russell (12.69). Alexandra Webster completed the US top three in 12.71 beating Italian record holder Giada Carmassi (12.78).
Men’s 110 metres hurdles:
Dylan Beard won the 110 metres hurdles race in 13.15 edging Cordell Tinch with the same time in a very close photo-finish. Kendry Menendez from Cuba improved his PB to 13.28 (world under 20 leading time) to finish third ahead of Enrique Llopis (13.32) and European champion Lorenzo Simonelli (13.41).
Dylan Beard: “I have a good season. I set a great PB with 13.02. I keep racing to continue improving”
Men’s 400 metres:
Reece Holder from Australia and Vernon Norwood from the USA finished first and second improving their seasonal best times to 44.56 to 44.64. Multiple Olympic and world medallist Kirani James finished third in 45.03.
Women’s high jump:
Olympic bronze medallist Eleanor Patterson from Australia cleared 1.97m on her first attempt to win the women’s high jump beating Yulia Levchenko on countback. Levchenko needed three attempts at this height to improve her seasonal best. Maria Zodzik from Poland cleared 1.94m on her second attempt to take third place.
Eleanor Patterson: “It was an amazing competition. The track Is very good. I thank the Italian crowd for the support”.
Yulia Levchenko: “I had been waiting for this result for a long time. I am happy with my jumps at 1.94m and 1.97m.”
Women’s pole vault:
USA’s Emily Grove cleared a seasonal best of 4.73m on her third attempt to win the women’s pole vault. Chloe Timberg needed two attempts at 4.63m to take second place. Two-time world champion Katie Moon cleared her opening height of 4.53m on her second attempt before failing three attempts at 4.73m and had to settle with third place ahead of Marleen Mulla from Estonia on countback.
Women’s 800 metres:
Two Italian athletes dipped under the 2 minutes barrier. Eloisa Coiro pulled away in the final straight to win the women’s 800 metres in 1:59.21. Marta Zenoni improved her PB for the second time in one week clocking 1:59.45 a few days after running 1:59.79 in Watford.
Eloisa Coiro: “I am very happy with the race. It was a good test after a good period of training. I ran many time under 2 minutes. I am satisfied with my consistency. I will compete at the World University Games in Germany and at the Italian Championships”.
Women’s 1500 metres:
Gaia Sabbatini won a tactical women’s 1500 metres race in 4:07.41 holding off Canada’s Gabriela Stafford Debues (4:07.42).
Gaia Sabbatini: “This win gives me a lot of confidence. I thank the crowd for the support. I had a difficult period due to a serious injury but I now feel very well. I will run in London on Saturday”
Men’s shot put:
Arrmin Sinancevic from Serbia won the men’s shot put claiming a close win with 21.07m ahead of Swedish indoor record holder Wictor Petersson (21.05m), European indoor champion Andrei Toader (20.68m) and 2023 European indoor gold medallist Zane Weir (20.57).
Women’s 200 metres:
Egyptian record holder Basant Hemida won the women’s 200 metres in 22.91 ahead of Shirley Nekubui from South Africa (22.99). Italian sprinter Gloria Hooper improved her seasonal best to 23.07 edging Vittoria Fontana (23.09).
