BARBADIAN AKELA JONES remains in contention for a medal at the Rio Olympics despite dropping to fourth place in the women’s heptathlon after the long jump this morning.
Jones’ best leap of 6.30 metres gave her fourth place in Group A and placed her tenth overall.
After five events, the 21-year-old Jones, who ended the first day in third position, had accumulated 4907 points – 60 behind third-placed Katrina Johnson-Thompson.
The new leader in the event is Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium who moved up with the help a 6.58 metre effort in the long jump.
With the javelin to follow at 7 p.m. and the 800 metres at 9:50 p.m., Thiam was leading with 5018 points with 2012 champion Jessica Enniss-Hill of Great Britain in second place on 5013 points.
Barbadian sprinter Ramon Gittens finished fourth in his 100 metres heat with a time of 10.25 seconds and failed to advance to the semifinals. (HG)