Asafa Powell secures his Daegu ticket in Kingston, taking the national 100m title over Yohan Blake and Steve Mullings (© Anthony Foster)
Kingston, JamaicaAsafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown won their respective 100m titles to highlight the second day of the Jamaican Championships at Kingston’s National Stadium on Friday (24).
Powell, whose fitness many doubted coming into the Championships after he pulled up in the Rabat World Challenge meeting last month, was impressive through the rounds and took the final in 10.08, running against a 1.8 metre per second wind. Yohan Blake, who was right in the mix, finished a very close second in 10.09 and Steve Mullings, the fastest Jamaican this season, third in 10.10.
“The race should have been a lot easier, but I got a bad start, and I had to run towards the end,” Powell said. “I managed to get to the front and I won and I am happy.”
“When I came out of my drive phase I saw myself pulling them in so I was not concerned with the bad start.”
In the women's 100m final, Campbell-Brown was more impressive than the rest, stopping the clock in 10.84. She got a very good start and took over control mid-way before racing across the finish line ahead of Kerron Stewart 10.97 and rookie Jura Levy 11.10. The wind was mild at +0.3.
Campbell-Brown as always thanked the crowd for their support.
"It's amazing, I am thankful to God for the win and to my fans who are very supportive. I love competing here in Jamaica and without the fans, we could not have done what we did."
Aleen Bailey finished fifth in 11.18, while Schillonie Calvert and Carrie Russell struggled to keep with the pace of the more experienced sprinters.
Reigning World champion Shelly Ann Fraser did not take part in the meet.
In the women's 400m hurdles, Kaliese Spencer won in 54.15 ahead of Ristananna Tracey, who ran a national junior record of 54.58, the second fastest run ever by a junior. Nickiesha Wilson was third in 55.95. Tracey’s time beat Spencer’s 55.11 for Jamaica’s junior mark.
"I kind of tightened up because I did not get my hurdling properly,” Spencer, a former World junior champion and 2009 World championships fourth place finisher, said. “But I am still pleased because I came here to make the team and I did just that."
Leford Green won the men’s event in 49.19 ahead of Josef Robertson 49.64 and Roxroy Cato 49.66.
National 800m champion and record holder Kenia Sinclair tuned up for that event on Saturday with an easy win in the 1500m in 4:18.00 bettering the 4:19.93 by Korene Hines who was next in line.
Jovanne Jarrett with 6.44m and Francine Simpson 6.23m were first and second respectively in the women’s Long Jump. Nicholas Thomas (16.12m) was the men’s Triple Jump winner.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
