MVP athletes Elaine Thompson and Julian Forte led the respective female and male 100m semi-final qualifiers on Thursday’s (22 June) opening day of the Puma Jamaica National Senior Championships.
Thompson, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games sprint double champion, recorded the day’s fastest female time, 11.20secs. She beat Jura Levy and Natasha Morrison, who both did the identical time of 11.36 in heat 4/4.
Simone Facey won heat 1 in 11.22 ahead of Samantha Henry Robinson, 11.41 while Jonielle Smith was given the nod in heat 2 in 11.23secs, the same time as second placer, Christania Williams.
Shashalee Forbes took heat 3 in 11.34 ahead of Shavine Hodges, 11.54.
Forte, in heat 2 of the men’s 100m dash, was first across the line in 10.14. He finished ahead of Senoj-Jay Givans, 10.27.
Yohan Blake looked easy in taking semi-final 4/4 in 10.21, just ahead of his Racers teammate Jevaughn Minzie, 10.22.
Asafa Powell comfortably topped heat 1 in 10.22 ahead of Raheem Chambers, 10.35 while Odean Skeen recorded the second best time of the day, 10.17 to take heat 3 ahead of Tyquendo Tracey, 10.24.
Kemar Bailey-Cole pulled up in heat 1 and had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Ristananna Tracey was the most impressive in the first round of the women’s 400m hurdles. She battled with Leah Nugent over the last hurdle, but prevailed 54.56 to 54.90.
Janieve Russell took heat 1 in 54.91 ahead of the fast finishing Ronda Whyte, who crossed the line in a personal best 54.93. Nikita Tracey also got a personal best of 55.01 for third place
Kemar Mowatt ran 49.43secs to record the fastest time in the men’s 400m hurdles. Jaheel Hyde, winner of heat 2, ran 49.46.
Ricardo Cunningham, 49.54, Andre Clarke, 49.90, Sheldon Williams, 49.83, Shawn Rowe, 49.50 and Roxroy Cato, 49.69 and Javarn Gallimore, 50.05 are the other qualifiers for the final.
Clive Pullen won the men’s triple jump with 16.83m over Wilbert Walker, 16.02m.
