Elaine Thompson has further raised the bar after storming to an astonishing World Lead (WL) of 10.70s to win the women’s 100m title on Day 2 of the Jamaican Trials on Friday.
This is the third time that Thompson will be going under 11s this season, after winning at the Rome Diamond League with 10.87s, and winning her semi-final at the National Trials with 10.85s.
Her new mark equals the National Record (NR) set by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce enroute winning the trials in 2012. Fraser-Pryce raced to her first sub 11s of the season to finish 2nd in 10.93s, with Christiana Williams finishing 3rd in 10.97s. Veronica Campbell-Brown was relegated to 4th in 11.10s.
By beating Fraser-Pryce, Thompson becomes her country’s new national champion and will no doubt be the favourite Jamaican female sprinter going to the Olympic Games in Rio. She is now the fastest this year, surpassing Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure who ran a new African Record of 10.78s in June.
Thompson, a 200m World Championships Silver medallist seems to be focusing on the 100m this year, and athletes like Tori Bowie, Dafne Schippers and Fraser Pryce will have to raise their game if they are to beat her in Brazil.
Meanwhile in the men’s category, the absence of World Record holder, Usain Bolt took a little shine off the race. Bolt who withdrew from the rest of the Championships explained in a statement that he got an exemption following the hamstring injury he got in the competition.
There have been insinuations that Bolt could even miss the Olympics, however the two-time 100m Olympic champion has dispelled that adding: “I will seek treatment immediately and hope to show fitness at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio.
Yohan Blake made the most of Bolt’s absence by storming to his first national title in four years. He stormed to his second 9.95s of the season, same time he won with in Germany in May. Nickel Ashmeade finished 2nd with a time of 9.96s and Jevaughn Minzie 3rd in 10.02s, while Asafa Powell finished 4th in the race clocking 10.03s.
Ristananna Tracey won the women’s 400m Hurdles in 54.75s with Leah Nugent placing 2nd in 55.44s and Kaliese Spencer 3rd in 55.83s. In the men’s category Annsert Whyte won in 48.66s, with Jaheel Hyde 2nd in 48.81s and Roxroy Cato 3rd in 48.96s.
In some field events, Chanice Porter won the women’s Long Jump with a mark of 6.59m, and Jessica Noble 2nd with 6.28m, while Tricia Moss finished 3rd, jumping a distance of 6.13m.
Tarasue Barnett won the women’s Discus with 59.03m as Shadae Lawrence finished 2nd throwing a distance of 58.95m, and Kellion Knibb 3rd with 57.56m.
The Jamaican trials will continue on Saturday with the 200m and the 400m semis amongst other events still to come in the Championships.
