Double sprint Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson continued her impressive showing this season by racing to a Meeting Record (MR) of 22.09s to win the 200m at the IAAF World Challenge Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday.
Thompson’s mark equals the World Lead (WL) set by the American duo of Tori Bowie and Deajah Stevens in April and May respectively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rcKPdPh51w
She was followed by World and Olympic 400m Bronze medallist Shericka Jackson in 22.61s, with Shalonda Solomon finishing 3rd in a time of 22.64s.
Meanwhile former World Champion Yohan Blake bounced back to winning ways to dominate the men’s 100m in a Season’s Best (SB) of 9.93s. The Jamaican sprinter, who enjoyed the backing of the home crowd, finished ahead of USA’s pair of Ronnie Baker (9.98s) and Mike Rodgers (10.02s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTekTd7JK1w
What a morale booster for the 27-year old who ended the Olympics without an individual medal. He would certainly be looking forward to a more fulfilling season in 2017.
It was a close call but Morolake Akinosun was equal to the task, defeating a worthy line-up comprising of Michelle-Lee Ahye (11.06s), Allyson Felix (11.07s) and Natasha Morrison (11.14s) to take the women’s 100m victory in 11.06s.
Andre De Grasse secured his first individual victory of the season by upstaging a stacked 200m field as he clocked an SB of 20.14s to finish ahead of LaShawn Merritt (20.28s), Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (20.29s) and Rasheed Dwyer (20.48s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=318axiENFHs
Home girl Novlene Williams-Mills came from behind to deny USA’s Phyllis Francis the win in the women’s 400m, storming to an SB of 50.54s, with the American coming 2nd in 50.66s. Natasha Hastings was 3rd in 51.20s and Stephenie-Ann McPherson 4th in 51.45s.
Jamaica’s Demish Gaye won the men’s 400m at the Jamaica Invitational as he returned a time of 45.08s, with Kevin Borlee and Tony McQuay following in 45.52s and 45.73s respectively.
It was a 1-2 for USA in the 100m Hurdles as Sharika Nelvis took the race in 12.64s, with Jasmin Stowers clocking a time of 12.68s in 2nd place. Reigning World Champion Danielle Williams was 3rd in 12.78s.
A similar scenario played out in the 110 Hurdles as USA secured a 1-2-3 in Aleec Harris (13.22s), Devon Allen (13.28s) and Jarret Eaton (13.50s), with home boy Andrew Riley finishing in 4th place with 13.51s.
The men’s 400m Hurdles threw up a surprise winner in 20-year old Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands, who posted a scorching WL of 47.80s to win the event. Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde was 2nd in 48.52s as former World Champion Bershawn Jackson clocked a time of 48.63s in 3rd place.
Two-time Commonwealth Games Bronze medallist Levern Spencer was the woman to beat in the High-Jump. She dominated the field with her mark of 1.90m, with Canada’s Alyxandria Treasure (1.90m) and Brigetta Barrett (1.85m) following. Nigerian Record holder Doreen Amata placed 7th with her clearance of 1.80m.
Though reigning Olympic and World Champion in the women’s Triple Jump, Caterine Ibarguen didn’t get close to her MR of 14.87m, she won the event nevertheless with her SB of 14.43m. Jamaican jumper Shanieka Thomas and Tamara Myers of the Bahamas posted leaps of 13.69m and 13.62m respectively in 2nd and 3rd.
Fresh from winning the Pole vault at the Shanghai Diamond League, USA’s Sam Kendricks maintained his winning streak to top the standings with his mark of 5.80m. Teammate Logan Cunningham was 2nd with a mark of 5.50m, and Shawn Barber 3rd with 5.40m.
