Oakley chasing win at Prefontaine Classic 400m runner leads Jamaican charge at two-day meet in Oregon

Jamaica’s in-form quarter-miler Dejanea Oakley will be aiming to continue her winning streak when she makes her professional debut in the women’s 400 metres at the Prefontaine Classic. The two-day meet gets under way today in Eugene, Oregon, and it is the ninth stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit.

Oakley is among 17 Jamaicans participating in the meet. She is unbeaten in the event this season, and at one point held the world-leading mark, with her personal best of 48.79 seconds.

Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic lowered the world-leading time on Sunday, clocking 48.48 seconds at the Paris Diamond League.

However, the Jamaican will not have to contend with Paulino today as the Dominican has withdrawn from the event.

Oakley will be joined in the event by fellow Jamaican, national champion Stacey-Ann Williams, who is coming off a third-place finish at the Paris Diamond League.

Williams, who ran a personal best of 49.40 seconds to win in Zagreb over a week ago, will be hoping to improve on that time. The United States duo of Aaliyah Butler (49.78) and Sani Butler (49.86), along with Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo, who has a season’s and personal best of 49.47 seconds, should still make this a very competitive affair.

When the preliminary round of the women’s 100 metres gets under way tomorrow at 2:32 p.m. Jamaica time, four Jamaicans will face the starter in a bid to advance to the final at 4:29 p.m.

Briana Lyston, who was second to Elaine Thompson-Herah a week ago in Zagreb, has withdrawn from the meet, leaving Shericka Jackson, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton and Jonielle Smith to contest the event.

Another Jamaican who was originally down to compete at the meet, World Championships 110m hurdles bronze medallist Tyler Mason, has also withdrawn. Mason, who was set to make his season debut, will be replaced by newly-crowned national champion Demario Prince.

SCHEDULE (Jamaicans):

TODAY

10:37 p.m. – Women’s 400m

Dejanea Oakley, Stacey-Ann Williams

TOMORROW

2:32 p.m. – Women’s 100m Heats

Shericka Jackson, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Jonielle Smith

2:50 p.m. – Men’s Discus Throw

Roje Stona, Ralford Mullings

3:12 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles

Orlando Bennett, Demario Prince

3:37 p.m. – Men’s 100m

Ackeem Blake, Oblique Seville

3:57 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put

Rajindra Campbell

4:04 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles

Ackera Nugent, Danielle Williams

4:21 p.m. – Men’s 200m