(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Davisleydi Velazco Opens 2026 Season With Stunning 15.13m Triple Jump in Doha
Cuban triple jumper Davisleydi Velazco delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Doha Diamond League, producing a world-leading leap of 15.13 metres to win the women’s triple jump competition.
Her mark set a new meeting record and places her among a very small group of athletes in recent years to surpass the 15.12m barrier, a level only achieved by a handful of elite performers over the past decade.
Velazco secured victory ahead of fellow Cuban and reigning world champion Leyanis Pérez Hernández, who recorded a season-best 14.97m in her second attempt. Senegal’s Saly Sarr impressed with a personal best of 14.86m to take third place, while Olympic champion Thea LaFond finished fifth with a best jump of 14.52m.
The winning jump was just short of the overall Doha meeting record of 15.15m, set in 2021, but still marked one of the strongest early-season performances in recent years.
Speaking after the event, Velazco said she was pleased with her form and surprised by how early in the season she was able to reach such a distance. She added that her main focus was securing victory, while also aiming to consistently clear the 15-metre mark.
Despite finishing second, Pérez Hernández expressed satisfaction with her early-season performance, noting that she is close to her personal best and expects further improvement as the season progresses.
