Darrel Brown, left, wins the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championship men’s 100 metres title, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on Saturday. Brown clocked a windy 9.88 seconds. Richard Thompson, right, earned silver in 9.95. (© Dexter Philip – Trinidad Express)
Port of Spain, Trinidad & TobagoDarrel Brown sizzled down the 100m straight at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on Saturday (23).
The 22-year-old sprint star scorched the Mondo track in a wind-assisted 9.88 seconds to strike gold in the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championship men’s 100 metres.
World Junior champion Rhonda Watkins, 19, took her third national women’s Long Jump title.
Another 9.8? - “I have to. Tyson (Gay) is running” in Osaka
With a 3.0 metres per second wind at his back, Darrel Brown bolted to victory in the 100m, ahead of Richard Thompson, the silver medallist in 9.95, and 19-year-old Keston Bledman (10.05). Marc Burns was fourth in 10.06, one spot ahead of dethroned champion Jacey Harper (10.15).
Thompson, who clocked a personal best 10.09 in winning his semi-final heat, got out well in the final. Brown’s mid-race surge, though, was a bit too much for the Louisiana State University (LSU) sprinter to handle, the 2001 champion reclaiming his national sprint crown with a silky smooth dash.
“I’m satisfied,” Jamaica-based Brown said shortly after his breathtaking bolt, “because last week in Oslo I felt my left hamstring tighten up on me. Coach told me to come down here and just do enough to win but I had to go down a little more…Richard was some stiff competition.”
When the clockings were announced over the public address system, Thompson excitedly acknowledged the cheers of his supporters.
Brown was very impressed with the challenge offered by Thompson.
“I was told to hold back a bit. I held back but when I glanced and saw Richard a little way in front I had to get up in gear a little more.”
Like Thompson, Bledman produced a new PB (personal best) in the semi-final round, the junior sprinter finishing second to Thompson in heat one in 10.14 seconds.
Brown is planning to compete at a few meets in Europe, ahead of next month’s Pan Am Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 2003 World Championship silver medallist is hoping his European stint will produce another 9.8 run, but without an illegal following wind. “I have to. Tyson (Gay) is running.”
Hat-trick for Watkins
Rhonda Watkins completed a hat-trick of national Long Jump titles with the easiest of victories, in front of the main stand, on Saturday (23).
The 19-year-old athlete saved her best for last, leaping 6.26 metres in the sixth and final round. The effort, though, failed to satisfy Watkins-the women’s national record holder at 6.82m.
“I’m disappointed,” but grateful that the injury to her right ankle was not aggravated. “All in all, at least I didn’t make anything much worse than it was before. I just have to move on from here.”
Watkins recently struck gold at the NCAA Championships in California, USA, with a windy 6.96m leap. However, she still attaches great significance to national titles.
“It’s special in that you get to come home and win in front of people you know. In terms of that it is still a special feeling.”
Kwame Laurence (Trinidad Express) for the IAAF
Click here for Day One report
RESULTS
Men
100m (wind: +3.0 m/s)
1 Darrel Brown (Silver Bullet) 9.88
2 Richard Thompson (Rebirth) 9.95
3 Keston Bledman (Simplex) 10.05
400m
1 Renny Quow (Zenith) 45.74
2 Ato Modibo (Simplex) 46.45
3 Jarrin Solomon (Memphis) 46.83
3 Zwede Hewitt (Rebirth) 46.83
1500m
1 Gavyn Nero (Memphis) 3:57.36
2 Denzil Ramirez (Defence Force) 4:02.25
3 Christian Benn (H/Olympians) 4:10.28
110m Hurdles (wind: +0.7)
1 Mikel Thomas (Petrotrin, PAP) 14.14
2 Adonis Jones (UWI) 14.56
3 Shayne Cooper (Rebirth) 14.77
High Jump
1 Kevin Huggins (QRC) 2.03m
2 Kashef Daniel (Zenith) 2.00m
2 Dwayne Nicome (Neon Trackers)
Long Jump
1 Lejuan Simon (Memphis) 7.74m (wind: 0.0)
2 Kyron Blaise (Toco TAFAC) 7.15m (wind: +0.7)
3 Chris Hercules (Memphis) 7.15m (wind: +2.0)
Shot Put
1 Wade Franklyn (Zenith) 13.47m
2 Quincy Wilson (H/Olympians) 13.08m
3 Basil Andrews (Petrotrin, Palo Seco) 12.53m
Javelin Throw
1 Kerron Brown (Success) 57.82m
2 Andre Andrews (Palo Seco) 53.78m
3 Rick Francis (Defence Force) 48.45m
Women
100m (wind: +1.5)
1 Sasha Springer (Memphis) 11.31
2 Ayanna Hutchinson (Phoenix) 11.51
3 Nandelle Cameron (Concorde) 11.54
400m
1 Britney St Louis (Phoenix) 54.09
2 Janeil Bellille (Neon Trackers) 54.38
3 Romona Modeste (Quantum) 54.83
1500m
1 Dawnell Collymore (Memphis) 5:00.23
2 Marissa Gale (H/Olympians) 5:01.95
3 Naomi Reyes (Neon Trackers) 5:02.04
100m Hurdles (wind: +2.8)
1 Afesha Dunbar (Point Fortin CC) 16.58
Long Jump
1 Rhonda Watkins (QRC) 6.26m (wind: 0.0)
2 Carisa Leacock (H/Olympians) 5.55m (wind: 0.0)
3 Deandra Daniel (Dovers) 5.23m (wind: 0.0)
Javelin Throw
1 Kwema Phillander (Palo Seco) 36.11m
2 Venice Frederick (Success) 36.03m
3 Shelly Richards (Brooklyn) 26.69m
