After missing the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London due to ill-health, as well as the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, 2012 Olympic Champion in the men’s 400m, Kirani James, bounced back into reckoning after racing to victory on Saturday at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica, where he smashed the Meeting Record of 44.37s set by Machel Cedenio in 2016.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion stormed to a new Meeting Record (MR) and Season’s Best (SB) of 44.35s at the National Stadium in Kingston to finish ahead of Fred Kerley (44.36s) and Bralon Taplin (45.11s).
Meanwhile Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also demonstrated that she is getting back to form as she won the women’s 100m in a time of 11.10s, while Jenna Prandini (11.14s), Briana Williams (11.26s) and Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.27s) followed.
Zharnel Hughes was the man to beat in the 100m as he clocked a Personal Best (PB) of 9.91s, with Noah Lyles settling for 2nd in 9.93s, while Yohan Blake finished 3rd in 10.00s.
Reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo maintained her unbeaten run in the 200m this season and finished ahead of Shericka Jackson (22.62s) once again as she dominated the race with a time of 22.11s. Shashalee Forbes was 3rd in 22.86s.
Nigel Ellis won the men’s 200m in 20.36s, with Bryce Robinson (20.38s) and Miguel Francis (20.59s) finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
It was a 1-2-3-4 for Jamaica in the women’s 400m as Glasgow 2014 GOLD medallist Stephenie-Ann led the onslaught, taking the win in 50.98s. She was followed by Anastasia Le-Roy (51.13s), Chrisann Gordon (51.98s) and Christine Day (52.02s).
Ajee Wilson dominated the women’s 800m as she returned a time of 1:59.84, as Natoya Goule of Jamaica and Charlene Lipsey clocked 2:00.66 and 2:00.70 in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Hansle Parchment inspired a 1-2 for Jamaica in the 110m Hurdles as he took the lead with his time of 13.31s, while Ronald Levy crossed the line in 13.32s. USA’s Devon Allen clocked 13.38s in 3rd.
Leah Nugent upstaged Gold Coast 2018 GOLD medallist Janieve Russell to win the women’s 400m Hurdles in 54.67s, with the latter following in 54.89s, while Rhonda Whyte placed 3rd with her time of 55.23s.
Commonwealth Games Champion in the women’s Shot put, Danniel Thomas-Dodd continued her impressive showing this season as she dominated the event once again with her best throw of 18.59m, while reigning Olympic Champion Michelle Carter was relegated to 5th place with a distance of 18.16m. USA’s duo of Raven Saunders (18.57m) and Monique Riddick (18.37m) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Shaneika Ricketts won the women’s Triple Jump with a mark of 14.39m, while Jamal Wilson took the men’s High Jump title with 2.24m.
