World indoor bronze medalist Ackeem Blake and former world champion Tajay Gayle and were the Jamaican winners on the opening day of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme Wanda Diamond League finals in Brussels.

In the men’s 100m, Blake maintained his good post Olympics form clocking 9.93 seconds to beat Americans Christian Coleman (10.00s) and Fred Kerley who was third in 10.01s. Former national champion Rohan Watson – the other Jamaican in the race – ended at the back of the field in 10.25 seconds.

The 23 year old who was winning his first Diamond League title told reporters afterwards, “For me, it was a surprise to win here today. It was a very competitive field, and it was also my first DL final. This really means a lot to me. It was rather cold to sprint tonight, but still I ran a time pretty close to my personal best.

“I’ve been working very hard this season and I kept motivated. That’s why I am so strong at the end of this season. I know what I am capable of, and I know that this is only the beginning. There’s much more to come in the next years.”

Gayle, one of three Jamaicans in the men’s long jump, claimed first place with a season-best 8.28 metres to beat Simon Ehammer of Switzerland who jumped 8.16m. Carey McLeod (7.85m) and Olympic silver medalist Wayne Pinnock (7.43m) were fifth and sixth respectively.

Also finishing on the podium were Olympic silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts and Ackellia Dmith in the women’s triple jump. Ricketts took the silver medal position with a leap of 14.22 metres with Smith third after registering 14.11m on her sixth and final jump.

Stacy-Ann Williams, in her first outing since running a new personal best 50.00 seconds, ran 50.53s for second place in the non Diamond league women’s invitational 400m event that was won by Olympic champion Sydney Mclaughin-Levrone in 49.11 seconds. Stephenie- Ann McPherson just missed the podium finishing fourth in 51.24.

National record-holder Rusheen McDonald who competed in the men’s equivalent was fifth in 46.71 seconds while Natoya Goule-Toppin was third in the women’s 800 metres in 1:58.94 seconds.

In the field events, Danniel Thomas-Dodd was fifth in the women’s shot put with a throw of 19.24 metres while Fedrick Dacres was seventh in the men’s discuss with a best effort of 61.63m. Mathew Denny of Australia won in a meet and national record 69.96m.