Thea LaFond wins Dominica's first Commonwealth gold as Jamaica add to medal haul

ROSEAU, Dominica. Dominica's Thea LaFond made history at the Commonwealth Games by winning the country's first gold medal, taking the women's triple jump with a leap of 14.60 metres.

Jamaica's Ackelia Smith won silver and Shantae Foreman took bronze, completing a Caribbean podium sweep.

The Olympic champion's victory completed her set of Commonwealth medals, after bronze in 2018 and silver in 2022.

"It's everything I've worked for," LaFond said. "To finally have the full set, bronze, silver and gold, it means the world to represent Dominica on this stage."

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit congratulated her on Facebook. "Another proud moment for Dominica! Way to go Champ!" he wrote. The Dominica Olympic Committee called it "another defining moment in Dominican sporting history".

Jamaica's medal tally rises to 15

Jamaica won two gold medals and a third podium place in another successful morning, raising its overall tally to 15.

Dejanea Oakley won the women's 400 metres in 50.21 seconds, becoming the fourth Jamaican woman to win the event. Barbados's Sada Williams took silver in 50.99 seconds and Nigeria's Ella Onovujwevwo bronze in 51.00.

Jordan Scott became the first Jamaican man to win Commonwealth Games triple jump gold, with a fourth-round leap of 16.72 metres. The victory adds to the World Indoor silver he won earlier this year.

Veteran discus thrower Fedrick Dacres, the 2018 champion, took silver with 65.10 metres. Australia's Matthew Denny retained his title with 67.73 metres.