World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce emerged winner of the Jamaican Senior Championship which was concluded on Sunday in Kingston, winning in a World Leading time of 10.79s. Fraser-Pryce won in style, coasting to victory with a wide margin that left her opponents trailing in her wake. Natasha Morrison took 2nd place in 11.03s, with Veronica Campbell-Brown finishing 3rd in 11.06s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gwsEr_WMVs
If Fraser-Pryce had put up a good show to win the 100m title, Asafa Powell matched it as well in excitement, lighting up the men’s 100m race to win in a time of 9.84s, equaling his Season’s Best that he recorded at the Jamaican invitational in May. “Humbled…Thank u so much everyone. This meet was important to me 4so many reasons. My day 1 never give up on me supporters that win was 4u!” Powell wrote on his Twitter page.
World record holder, Usain Bolt was scheduled to compete in this championship, but it was not to be as he pulled out of the competition at the eleventh hour. However, it was Powell who stole the show to claim the Jamaican title.
Both Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole who finished 2nd and 3rd, clocking times of 9.91s and 9.97s respectively, will now feature in the 100m for Jamaica alongside Bolt (who already has a bye) at the World Championship in August. There is no Nesta Carter, but the biggest shock is the non-qualification of former champion, Yohan Blake. The 2011 champion failed to make the final, after finishing 6th in the semis, thereby missing an opportunity to make the team.
https://youtu.be/ETc0IUrcjyc?list=PLhsGnoaeSsfah4y2U5qFRKAht3i7C-jYB
It might be a blow to Blake, who is just returning from a lengthy injury layoff, but the Olympic Silver medalist is already taking positives from that saying afterwards: “Didn’t make the finals but my season can only get better” an emotional Blake wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Ashmeade held off a late surge from Warren Weir to win the 200m in 20.36s, while the latter settled for 2nd position with a time of 20.39s, Julian Forte finished in 3rd position in 20.51s. Javon Francis emerged winner of the men’s 400m in 44.70s with Rusheen McDonald coming 2nd in 44.73s and Richardo Chambers 3rd in 45.10s.
After opting out of the women’s 100m, Elaine Thompson went on to win the 200m event in 22.51, beating Sherone Simpson who finished 2nd in 22.77s and Campbell Brown who came 3rd in 23.02s.
The surprise result came in the women’s 400m where Christine Day emerged winner in 50.16s, with Sherika Jackson placing 2nd in 50.31s and Commonwealth champion, Stephanie Mcpherson finishing 3rd in 50.49s.
In other non-track events, Kimberly Williams won the women’s triple jump with a mark of 14.34m, beating Shanieka Thomas whose best of 13.69m earned her a second place finish. And in the men’s Shot Put event, O’Dayne Richards won with his best throw of 20.13m.
Bahamas!
Meanwhile at the Bahamas championship this past weekend, young Steven Gardiner broke the National Record (NR) to win the men’s 400m in 44.27, surpassing Chris Brown’s 44.40 feat that has stood for seven years.
The 19-year-old Gardiner showed a glimpse of what to expect from him at the 2015 World Relays his country hosted in May, playing a pivotal role in Bahamas winning the silver medal in the 4×400 relay race, and he consolidated on that last Saturday, beating Michael Mathieu who was 2nd in 45.00 and Latoy Williams, 3rd in 45.40.
In the women’s 400m, Shaunae Miller continued in her giant strides, winning the race in 50.69 to take the title. Anthonique Strachan took the 200m title in 22.84, beating Sheniqua Ferguson who came 2nd in 23.28 and Carmiesha Cox, 3rd in 23.68.
Click here to read our review of the US National Trials
