SFP among three Jamaicans winners in Italy

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, O'Dayne Richards and Shericka Jackson continued their Rio 2016 fine-tuning with comfortable wins at the Atletica Mondiale meeting in Padova, Italy inside the Stadio Euganeo yesterday.

Fraser-Pryce, who will be defending her title in the 100m has been hampered all season with a toe injury but showed little sign of discomfort as she stepped away from the field after a few strides to take the event without much effort.

With 11.25 flashing on the clock after she crossed the line, Fraser-Pryce's time won't necessarily scare anyone, but her execution throughout and the fact that she did not exhibit the grimaces evident after her second place finish at the National Senior Championships a few weeks ago are certainly encouraging signs.

Second place went to American Jeneba Tarmoh, clocked 11.47 for second with young University of Technology student and 2015 World University Games silver medal winner Shimayra Williams, 11.54, finishing third

McPherson clocked 50.98 for a businesslike win in the women's 400m, finishing ahead of Ukraine's Olha Zemlyak and homegirl Marla Chigbolu, who both registered season's best times of 51.18 and 52.01 respectively.

improvement

World Championships bronze medallist Richards continues to show signs of improvement, following up his 20.82m win at the National Senior Championships with his second best effort in the shot put this year, winning with a 20.78m heave.

Poland's Mateusz Mikos was second with 19.56 and Italian Sebastiano Bianchetti, 18.72m finishing third.

National champion Megan Simmonds was third in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.18.

The event was won by Great Britain and Northern Ireland's Cindy Ofili, 13.11, while American Raven Clay, 13.16 was third.

Another Olympics-bound athlete Simoya Campbell ran fifth in the women's 800m after crossing the line in 2:02.76. The event was won by Italian Yus Santiusti Caballero in 2:01.04 ahead of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland pair of Laura Muir, 2:01.23 and Hanna England, 2:01.34.

Also competing at the meet were Tyquendo Tracey, 10.36 and Kavean Smith, 10.39, who were fourth and sixth respectively in the men's 100m, which was won by American Ronnie Baker in 10.15.