JAMAICA’S rising super star Jaydon Hibbert stole the show at Racers Grand Prix by smashing the men’s triple jump meet and stadium record. The 19-year-old soared to a distance of 17.75m (-0.7 mps), which is also a world lead, inside the National Stadium on Saturday night.

Hibbert, who had the fans on the edge of their seats, achieved his mark on his fourth attempt to loud applause, after starting with 16.45m and following that up with 17.14m, then 17.30m — which was the record at the time before the winning jump.

Hibbert is especially pleased with his performance, given challenges he had at the start of the event.

“Today started very shakily,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “My approach was really off and my coach wasn’t here. In the preliminaries of the competition I felt a little bit discouraged, but I tried my best. My mental capacity kept me and my resilience helped me.

“I’m honestly speechless to have broken the record. It was intended — 17.7 today. Personally, I was thinking about it and I knew it was it when I got it. I’m just super grateful that I jumped so far today.”

Hibbert’s compatriots O’Brien Wasome and Jordan Scott were second and third with 16.64m and 16.06m, respectively.

Promising Jamaican 400m hurdler Shiann Salmon said she is right where she wants to be in terms of her preparations for the season and is not focusing on times, after winning the women’s 400m hurdles in 55.41 seconds.

The 25 year-old won ahead of American Cassandra Tate, who clocked 55.60s. Veteran Jamaican Ronda Whyte was third in 56.19s, with Tia-Adana Belle of Barbados finished fourth in 56.23s.

“I am not looking at times, I am more looking at executions and positions,” said Salmon, who was a part of Jamaica’s silver medal-winning 4x400m relay team at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. “I am definitely where I am supposed to be. I already did 54.2; it’s the fastest I have ever gone before ‘Trials’ — which is three weeks away — and I am ready.”

Salmon, the 2022 Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles silver medallist, said despite the unfavourable conditions, she was ready.

“It was much more windy than I expected it to be but my aim was to win, and I did just that. I am pleased, but I can’t say I am pleased with the time.

“I am very happy. The conditions are not what I expected but I came out here and did the best that I could, and I won.”

Salmon will have her hands full making the Jamaican team, loaded with talent, as evidenced by the outstanding display by her countrywomen in capping the top three spots in the Oslo Diamond League courtesy of Rushell Clayton (54.02), Andrenette Knight (54.63), and Janieve Russell (55.07).

Stacey-Ann Williams captured the women’s 400m in 50.86s, ahead of American Lynna Irby-Jackson in 51.05s. Charokee Young was third in 51.86s.

Williams, 25, who finished strongest of all, has never made a Jamaican team for the individual 400m and is looking to secure her ticket for the Paris Olympics.

“I am absolutely working towards that,” she said. “I am pretty excited about my performance tonight as it has been a season of many ups and downs, and to get the win tonight is pretty good.”

World 400m champion Antonio Watson did not show for the men’s 400m and the Observer understands that he felt discomfort while warming up.

The race was won by Emmanuel Bamidele of Nigeria in 45.49s. Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke was second in a season’s best 45.57s, ahead of Zandrion Barnes, in third, with 45.62s.