Dominican star Thea LaFond-Gadson leaps to world-leading performance at 61st East Coast Invitational

Dominican triple jumper Thea LaFond-Gadson showcased her exceptional talent by establishing a world-leading performance at the 61st East Coast Invitational in Virginia, USA, on Saturday. The event featured a specially arranged Olympic Development competition, where LaFond-Gadson emerged victorious with a remarkable leap of 14.60m.

The talented jumper not only secured her win but also surpassed her own meet record of 14.54 meters, set in 2021. LaFond-Gadson's performance underlined her consistency and determination to raise the bar in her discipline. If ratified, the mark also displaces the previous 2024 best of 14.45m by Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez in France earlier Saturday.

The Olympic Development event at the high-school meet gathered a field of elite jumpers, including renowned athletes such as Kenturah Orji and Imani Oliver, with personal bests of 14.90 and 14.22 meters, respectively. The competition promised a high level of athleticism, with top-tier participants aiming to make their mark.

In addition to the established stars, the field included promising talents like Mylana Hearn, Adja Sackor, and Aniella Delafosse. The diverse lineup added an extra layer of excitement to the event.