Thompson stars with PB at NCB Intercollegiate Championships

University of Technology (UTech) speedster, Elaine Thompson, stole the show on yesterday's opening day of the two-day NCB Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships inside the National Stadium.

Thompson produced a massive personal best of 11.01 seconds in winning the women's 100 metres - in a negative wind of 1.1 metres per second - to break the 10-year-old record of 11.33 seconds done by Sherone Simpson.

It was one-two for UTech as Chanice Bonner finished second in 11.44 seconds, with third going to G.C. Foster College's Kedisha Dallas, in 11.49 seconds.

Thompson, who was competing in her first 100 metres of the season, was very surprised with her fast time.

"I didn't know that I had done a personal best, and when I heard the time, I was very surprised, knowing that it was my first 100 metres of the season. I am very excited, and I just have to go back to training and work much harder," said Thompson, whose previous PB was 11.17.

Her coach, Stephen Francis, was not surprised.

"I am not surprised that she ran so fast, as she showed at the Gibson Relays when she overpowered Kerron Stewart on the second leg of the 4x100 metres that she was going to run fast. It is a pity she ran in a headwind as she could have gone sub-11 seconds, and if she continues this trend, she will definitely be a contender for an individual spot on Jamaica's team to the World Senior Championships in Beijing, China, this summer," said Francis.

Andrew Fisher made it a UTech 100m double by winning the men's title in 10.18 seconds ahead of his teammate, Kemarley Brown, 10.21, with third going to Bernardo Brady of UWI, Mona, in 10.44.

Four other records were broken, with Common-wealth Games women' s 400m hurdles bronze medallist, Janieve Russell, starting the show in the first track final. Russell stopped the clock at 55.83 seconds to break Rushell Clayton's one-year record of 56.41. G.C. Foster College's Ronda Whyte was second in 57.41, with Clayton of the University of West Indies third in 59.41.

Immediately after AndrÈ Clarke, now competing for G.C. Foster College, produced a personal best of 50.10 seconds to take the men's 400 metres hurdles. Jamie Demps (51.10) of UTech was second, while Jamar McNaughton of UWI, Mona, was third in 52.57.

more records

Simoya Campbell of UTech and Danielle James of G.C. Foster College also erased records. Campbell took the 800m in a record 2:05.91, while her teammate, Samantha James, was second in 3:07.75, with third going to Krissy-Ann Brown of G.C. Foster in 2:13.73.

James won the women's 3000m Steeplechase in a record 11:44.85, beating teammate Ophir Simmons (in 12:31.50). Third went to CASE's Jillian Jones in 13:18.15.

G.C. Foster's Tara Sue Barnett also set a record. The former Edwin Allen athlete won the women's discus throw with 53.86 metres to defeat UTECH's Geneva Greaves into second place with 51.15 metres.

Defending champions G.C. Foster lead in both sections.

The top-five male teams are: G.C. Foster College 69, UTech; 68; UWI, 57; Mico, 13; and Exed, 6.

The top five females are: G.C. Foster College, 75; UTech, 68; UWI, 38; Mico, 17; and CASE, 13.