Shelly shines at National Champs
Published:Friday | June 24, 2022 | 12:12 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Not for the first time this season, four-time world 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made a statement in a 100m race. In this case, it was against a quality line-up on yesterday’s opening day of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium.
Fraser-Pryce stormed to a first-round win, clocking 10.70 seconds, the fastest time among the semi-finalists, setting up a fierce battle for the top spot in today’s semi-finals and final. Olympic 4x100m gold medalist Briana Williams came second in that heat in 10.98, one-hundredth of a second off her personal best of 10.97. Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah advanced to the semi-finals with a comfortable victory, clocking 11.06 while Tokyo Olympic 100m bronze medalist Shericka Jackson also advanced, finishing second in Heat Three in 10.99. Oregon University graduate Kemba Nelson won that heat in 10.98.
In the men’s 100m, Oblique Seville and Yohan Blake both threw down the gauntlet for today’s semi-finals and final with both clocking sub-10 times. Seville won his heat in 9.98 while Blake went under 10 seconds for the first time this season, clocking 9.93, the fastest time among the semi-finalists. Conroy Jones had the third-fastest time with 10.00 while Ackeem Blake had the fourth-fastest time with 10.01.
The women’s 100m tonight will headline today’s packed Day Two, which consists of 18 finals.
Meanwhile, Shian Salmon booked her place in today’s women’s 400m hurdles final with the fastest time in her first-round heat, clocking 54.10. Janieve Russell of MVP had the second-fastest time with 55.04 while Andrenette Knight had the third-fastest time with 54.55. World championship bronze medalist Ruschell Clayton also advanced to the final with the fifth-fastest time, 54.67, setting up a fierce battle for the three places.
NATIONAL RECORD
The men’s 800m final will see new national record holder Navasky Anderson hoping to claim the national title after his semi-final run of 1:48.24 minutes was good enough to win his heat. Defending national champion Chevonne Hall clocked 1:49.08 to ensure that he has a chance to retain his title.
Among the national champions that were crowned yesterday was Kimberly Williamson, who caused the first upset of the meet by winning the women’s high jump, over favourite and new national record holder Lamara Distin, with a height of 1.88m. Distin, who captured the indoor and outdoor NCAA titles this season, could only clear 1.85m for second place. Daniella Anglin of the University of South Dakota finished third with 1.80m.
Williamson said that despite Distin’s form and pedigree, she was determined to trust her abilities in winning the title for the seventh time.
“I don’t focus on who I am competing against. The high jump is one of those events where it is just you against the bar. So coming out here, I was confident in my abilities to perform,” Williamson told The Gleaner.
Ackelia Smith won the women’s long jump title with a winning lead of 6.56m, dethroning last year’s champion,, Chanice Porter, who came second with 6.52m. Deborah Acquah came third in 6.47m.
Dwayne Graham captured the men’s 5000m title, clocking 15:59.66, ahead of Noel Ellis, who came second in 16:21.17. Kemar Leslie finished third in 17:18.02.
Among the performances for the juniors, Holmwood Technical’s, Cedricka Williams set a new national junior record of 56.21m to win the under-20 girls’ discus.