Williams clocks season’s best to win 100m

After below-par performances earlier this season, Briana Williams bounced back to good form at Saturday’s JAAA Budapest Quest meet inside the National Stadium. The 2018 World Under-20 Championships sprint champion clocked a season’s best 11.04 seconds to win the women’s 100 metres.

Representing Titans Track Club, Williams was out of the blocks in a flash with her usual fast start, and unlike her previous races this season, where she slowed quickly in the latter stages, Williams showed good top end speed to win easily. Kemba Nelson, representing Elite Performance, was second in 11.18 while Ramona Burchell of SprinTec, who defeated Williams the last time they met, was third in 11.20.

Williams, who is now the joint fifth-fastest Jamaican female this season over the 100m with former Edwin Allen star Kevona Davis, will now turn her attention to Saturday’s New York Grand Prix meet. She will contest the women’s 100m against Americans Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson, Moralake Akinosun, and Aleia Hobbs.

Stacy Ann Williams, the country’s top female athlete over the 400m this season scored an easy win over the one lap event. Williams, representing Elite Performance, clocked 51.08 seconds. Tovea Jenkins of SprinTec was second in 52.15 while Candice McLeod of Puma was third in 52.66.

Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, representing Racers Track Club, stole the spotlight among the males after clocking a fast 10.00 seconds to win the 100m. Titans’ Ackeem Blake, the fastest Jamaican this season in the event, got a good start, but the fast-finishing Hughes caught him close to the line for the win. Blake clocked 10.07 for second ahead of Elite Performance’s Nigel Ellis, third in 10.19 and fourth overall. Herbert Morrison Technical schoolboy Deandre Daley won his heat in a personal best 10.07 seconds for third overall. Both Hughes and Blake will clash again this Saturday at the New York Grand Prix meet.

RECORD HOLDER

It was not a good return for National junior record holder Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, who was competing in his first race since his injury at the Carifta Games two months ago. Representing Racers Track Club, he finished sixth in his heat in 10.47. Former Kingston College sprinter Jevaughn Matherson, also representing Racers Track Club, trailed in eighth and last after suffering from a leg injury in mid-race.

SprinTec’s Rasheed Dwyer topped the men’s 200m after clocking 20.57 seconds to get the better of Racers’ Antonio Watson (20.63) and Edwin Allen High schoolboy Brian Levell (20.71).

Elite Performance’s Deandre Watkins clocked the fastest time in the men’s 400m after stopping the clock at 46.51. Malique Smith Band of Jamaica College was second in 46.70, with Paul Henry of New Era Track Club third in 46.83.