Kerrica Hill and Claudia Hollingsworth break meeting records at Lignano Sabbiadoro
Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill and Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth produced the standout performances at the 37th Meeting Sport e Solidarietà in Lignano Sabbiadoro on Wednesday, both setting meeting records on a warm summer evening at the Guido Teghil Stadium. Hill edged a world-class women's 100m hurdles field in 12.66, while Hollingsworth dominated the women's 1500m in 4:00.70. The international meeting also featured victories by Sam Tanner, Mohad Zahafi, McKenna Keegan, Melvin Marcelino, and Thandazani Ndhlovu, along with a Uruguayan national record from Valentin Soca in the men's 1500m and a meeting record in the men's javelin by Great Britain's Ben East.
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
Two-time world under 20 champion Kerrica Hill won the women’s 100 metres hurdles setting a meeting record with 12.66 (+0.8 m/s) edging last year’s Lignano meeting winner Rayniah Jones (12.67) in a close photo-finish. Britany Anderson from Jamaica, world silver medallist in Eugene 2022, finished third in 12.70 ahead of Italian record holder Giada Carmassi, who equalled her seasonal best with 12.90.
Kerrica Hill: “I am happy with the time. I enjoyed this meeting. I will run my next race in Lucerne on 16 July. My biggest goal for the season is to reach my best for for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow”.
Jones won in Lignano last year in 12.93 and used this performance as a springboard for her breakthrough 2026 season. She improved her PB to 12.43 in Zagreb.
Rayniah Jones: “I really enjoy Lignano, especially the beach. I have a great memory of my season. I am very happy with my season so far. I am planning to compete in Monaco on Friday”.
Women’s 1500 metres:
Claudia Hollingsworth dominated the women’s 1500 metres in a new meeting record of 4:00.70. Annika Reiss finished a distant second setting a PB of 4:03.54. Austria’s Caroline Bradlinger opened her outdoor season with a third place in 4:04.63.
Claudia Hollingsworth: “It was very special to win the race with a meeting record in such beautiful place. It’s my second time at this meeting. The crowd gave me a lot of energy”.
Men’s 1500 metres:
Sam Tanner from New Zealand won a very close men’s 1500 metres race in 3:34.75 edging Flavien Szot with the same time. Valentin Soca from Uruguay placed third with a national record of 3:35.12. David Barroso from Spain improved his PB t 3:35.28.
Men’s 800 metres:
Mohad Zahafi from Morocco won the men’s 800 metres in 1:44.95 ahead of Spain’s Adrian Ben (1:45.20) and European bronze medalllist Catalin Tecuceanu, who improved his seasonal best to 1:45.59.
Women’s 800 metres:
US middle distance runner McKenna Keegan set a PB of 1:58.54 to win the women’s 800 metres. Lena Kandissounon completed the US double by finishing second in 1:59.97. Evelina Mattanen from Finland just dipped under the 2 minutes barrier setting a seasonal best of 1:59.98. Maria Colajanni from Italy finished fourth in 2:00.89 missing her PB by just 18 hundredths of a second.
Men’s 400 metres:
Thandazani Ndhlovu from Zimbabwe won his second 400 metres race on Italian soil in 45.15 following his victory in Lucca in 44.73 last June. Ndhlovu improved his PB to 44.71 in Gaborone last April. Lorenzo Benati from Italy improved his PB by just five hundredths of a second to 45.34. Luca Sito, fifth in the European Championships final in Rome and former Italian record holder, placed third in 45.73 missing his seasonal best by just two hundredths of a second.
Men’s 100 metres heats:
Louie Hinchliffe won the first heat in 10.12 (+0.4 m/s) edging Nishion Ebanks (10.13). Melbin Marcelino fom Dominican Republic took the win in the second heat with 10.13 ahead of 2023 Jamaican 100m champion Rohan Watson (10.16).
Men’s 100 metres final:
Melvin Marcelino won the 100 metres final in 10.12 running 0.01 faster than in the heat. Rohan Watson, Jamaican champion in 9.91 in 2023, placed second in 10.17 ahead of Emile Easmus from South Africa (10.19) and Rohan Browning from Australia (10.31). Louie Hinchliffe did not run he final.
Women’s 100 metres:
Former Jamaican sprinter Christania Williams, who now represents Austria, won for the second time in her career in Lignano in the women’s 100 metres in 11.26 ahead of Kristal Sloley from Jamaica (11.31).Magdalena Lindner from Austria finished third in 11.35 one week after winning in Eisenstadt.
Men’s 400 metres hurdles:
Kemorena Tisang from Botswana won the men’s 400 metres hurdles in 48.82 ahead of Joshua Faulds (49.06) and European silver medallist Alessandro Sibilio (49.16).
Women’s 400 metres:
Marlije Viljoen from South Africa won the women’s 400 metres in 51.53 ahead of Italy’s Alessandra Bonora (52.23) and world indoor 4x400 relay champion Paris Peoples (52.41).
Men’s shot put:
Zane Weir from Italy, European indoor champion in Istanbul 2023, claimed his second win in Lignano Sabbiadoro with 19.98m in the third round. Giorgi Mujaridze from Georgia finished runner-up with 19.82m ahead of Szymon Mazur from Poland (19.41m).
Men’s javelin throw:
Ben East from Great Britain improved Armin Kerer’s meeting record to 79.89m in the fourth round to win the men’s javelin throw ahead of Jan Vyska from Czechia ( 78.81) and Michael Allison from Great Britain (76.33).
Women’s long jump:
Marthe Koala from Burkina Faso leapt to 6.46m into a headwind of -0.2 m/s to win the women’s long jump ahead of Italy’s Arianna Battistella (6.35m).
