PARIS, France, CMC- Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson and Christine Day picked-up second and third positions in the 400 metres hurdles at the 12th stop of the Diamond League series in France on Friday.
McPherson, a 400m finalist in Rio de Janeiro, clocked 50.33 seconds to finish behind American Natasha Hastings who won in 50.06 seconds.
Day improved on her Olympic Games form to place third in 50.75 seconds.
McPherson was the quickest out of the blocks from lane five and opened up a slight lead on Hastings.
However Hastings began accelerating after 200 metres and came off the final curve level with McPherson and into a tight finish in the final 80 metres before the American pulled away in the finals 10 metres to take victory.
McPherson’s victory earned her a one point lead for the 400 metre Diamond Trophy ahead ahead of Olympic champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas.
“Today was a good day for me as I felt like myself again,” said Day.
“I am not surprised because I know that I am in good form although I still have some little things to fix”.
Another mouth-watering clash over the 200 metres between Diamond League leader Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, who won Olympic Gold over the 100 and 200 metres, did not take place.
Thompson, who also won the 100 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League earlier this week, opted out of the Parish Diamond League and returned to her training camp in Italy to prepare for upcoming meets.
