Ackera Nugent wins Rome 100m hurdles in world-leading 12.24

ROME, Italy – Arkansas alum Ackera Nugent sped to a world-leading time of 12.24 seconds in the 100m hurdles at the Rome Diamond League meet on Friday, breaking her Jamaican national record and the meet record in the process.

It was a banner day for Razorbacks and members of the Fayetteville pro group inside the Rome Olympic Stadium as they totaled five victories, three runner-up finishes and a pair of third place efforts.

Razorback Romaine Beckford placed second in the high jump as he equaled the Arkansas school record with a 7-6.5 (2.30) clearance on his third attempt at the elusive height. Beckford joins four other Razorbacks who cleared the height and share the UA school record.

Having broken the Jamaican national record during the national championships in Kingston in late June with a 12.28, Nugent powered to her 12.24 victory into a –0.4 headwind over Olympic champion Masai Russell (12.31) and Netherlands Nadine Visser (12.52).

Nugent broke the meet record of 12.37 set in 2022 by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. Nugent takes over the world lead from the 12.25 run by Russell at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

On the world all-time list, the 22-year-old Nugent ranks as the No. 4 performer with an equal No. 4 performance.

“This victory is not like a revenge for the Olympics for me,” stated Nugent. “I’m just in a really good shape. I was injured before and this is a new experience for me. I am still so young. I still got to show up.

“My emotions? I guess they have not kicked in yet, because I am still so full of adrenaline. I cannot tell you. Yeah, I kind of expected to win here. I really enjoyed this race. For the next races, I do not promise anything because it will depend on the day and the weather also.”

In addition to Nugent, Ryan Crouser set a meet record in the shot put as additional victories were attained by Anna Cockrell (400m hurdles), Brittany Brown (200m) and Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump).

Crouser registered a winning throw of 73-9.5 (22.49) to better the previous meet record of 72-1 (21.97) set in 2019 by Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki. Italian Leonardo Fabbri, who defeated Crouser in the London Diamond League prior to the Paris Olympics, finished second with a 71-2.5 (21.70) mark.

“I executed a lot better today than I did in Silesia,” noted Crouser. “I no longer feel the jet lag after coming back to Europe from home. It is a good indicator there is a big throw is coming up. Not that today’s mark is not big, but I believe I can still get into world record territory. I am trending in the right direction.

“Mentally and physically you reach your peak at the Olympics, but you can compensate for not being there with being more relaxed. I feel more mentally engaged than normally at this stage of the season. I’m throwing consistently and that is important. You train for that one big throw, but when you get consistency, big throws are more likely to come.”

Olympic gold medalist Rojé Stona led the discus competition in his Diamond League debut until the final throw of the competition. Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh hit a mark of 225-1 (68.61) to surpass the toss of 222-7 (67.85) by Stona that held the lead since the second round. World record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania finished third at 222-0 (67.68).

“This is my first time in Rome, my first time at a Diamond League,” said Stona. “I got beaten at the last attempt, but these things happen in sport, I had my opportunities. But, yes, I am a bit disappointed. The result is still good, but I’m never really satisfied.

“I’ll go back home to Jamaica in a few weeks to finally celebrate my Olympic gold medal. After Paris, I went back to the U.S. to train. I finished college and will train at my college as a professional athlete, so you might see me in Europe more often next season.”

Stona’s finish earned him seven points towards the Diamond League final and that places him ninth with only six throwers advancing to the Diamond League final on points. The current sixth position is held by Jamaican Fedrick Dacres with nine points.

“My coach Ryan Crouser competed at the same time like me here, so he was not able to coach me,” noted Stona. “I did not execute most of my throws well. I have another meet in Zagreb coming next. I would like to compete in Brussels, but I think that I might need a wild card, because this is the only Diamond League meeting I did this year.”

Beckford joins an impressive list of Razorbacks who share the UA outdoor high jump record, which includes Ray Doakes (1995), Matt Hemingway (1996), James Ballard (1997), and Kenny Evans (2000).

“2.30 is something that every high jumper dreams of doing at some point,” said Beckford. “It’s an answer to my prayers than I achieved it today. I knew I had to be patient and everything would come together eventually.

“Jamaica is rising in the jumping events and I want to put us on the map in the high jump to be a part of this. Gianmarco Tamberi really caught the energy of the crowd here. With me jumping right after him, it gave me a push as well. Jumping against him in this stadium is a great experience, just like jumping in my first Diamond League was recently.”

Beckord matched the winning height set by Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo while there was a tie for third place at 7-5.25 (2.27) between Oleh Doroshchuck of Ukraine and Italy’s Tamberi. Beckford has finished second in both of this Diamond League appearances.

Cockrell delivered a convincing victory in the 400m hurdles with a time of 52.59 as Shamier Little finished third in 54.15 and Andrenette Knight placed fifth in 54.90. Brown clocked 22.00 for her 200m win over American Anavia Battle (22.27) and British sprinter Darryl Neita (22.48).

Davis-Woodhall led an American 1-4 finish in the long jump, winning with a leap of 23-0.5 (7.02). She was followed by Monae’ Nichols (22-4.5), Quanesha Burks (21-10.25), and Jasmine Moore (21-8.75).

Arkansas alum Sandi Morris produced a season best clearance of 15-10.25 (4.83) as runner-up in the pole vault. She matched the winning height of Australia’s Nina Kennedy. Another alum, Tina Šutej, placed seventh with a clearance of 14-6.5 (4.43).

Omar McLeod, the Arkansas alum who won Olympic gold in 2016, finished third in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.28. France’s Sasha Zhoya won the race in 13.18 with Spain’s Asier Martinez runner-up in 13.27.