Jackson sends 100m title shot warning
MVP’s Watson crowned new 100m men’s champion; Clarke equals World Junior record in 400m hurdles final
Published:Saturday | July 8, 2023 | 12:12 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
In a blistering performance in front of a packed grandstand and her close family and friends, Shericka Jackson fulfilled the goal she set for herself last month and now will be the athlete to beat in the women’s 100 metres at next month’s World Athletics Championships.
Jackson stormed to victory winning her second national 100m title in a personal best 10.65 seconds, becoming the fastest woman in the world this year. Shashalee Forbes was second in 10.96 booking her ticket to Budapest while Jackson’s MVP track club teammate Natasha Morrison was third in 10.98.
It was the time that Jackson targeted last month and she was grateful to share the moment with her close family and friends.
“I knew what I was capable of. But I just wanted to put it together and I think I did so. I am so grateful. It is great feeling to have the people that I love for them to help me celebrate and I am just grateful,” Jackson said after the race.
Briana Williams was fourth in 11.01 and double-double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah missed out on the 100m team, finishing fifth in 11.06.
A new men’s 100m champion was crowned as MVP’s Rohan Watson struck gold winning in 9.91. Ryiem Forde was second in 9.96 and Oblique Seville was third in 10.00.
Watson said that he could not have imagined a better performance
“I thought my performance was excellent. I mean, 9.91, it was an excellent performance,” Watson said.
In the 400m hurdles, Roshawn Clarke, 19, came of age and made his first World Championships team in impressive fashion, winning the men’s title in a world junior equalling record performance of 47.85 seconds. Three-time national champion Jaheel Hyde was second in 48.45 and Assinie Watson was third in 48.50. Basking in the glow of making his first senior championship team in his first season as a professional, Clarke said that all he was focused on was his own race plan, relishing the achievement that he set out for himself in his rookie year.
STRATEGY
“I have been training from August for this moment and now I came out here and got it. Now we move on to the next one. The strategy was just to come out here, don’t watch anyone, just run my own race,” Clarke said. For Hyde, it was a moment that filled him with pride to see his former training partner announce himself in this fashion.
“If anybody was supposed to beat me, I would have loved for it to have been Roshawn. He is like my little brother. He is a big man now but it’s love same way,” Hyde said.
Janieve Russell captured her third consecutive national women’s 400m hurdles title in a tight finish, clocking a season’s best 53.75. Andrenette Knight was second in 53.78, making her first World Championships team after failing to finish at last year’s national championships. Rushell Clayton was third in 53.81.
While grateful for the national title, Russell said that securing a World Championships spot was the only goal for her.
“I wanted to finish strong. I stuttered on that last hurdle. I believed that everyone wanted me to win but for me I wanted to be in the top three. It’s three ladies going not just one. I’m just really grateful this is my third World Championships team,” Russell said.
Romaine Beckford captured his first national high jump title, winning with a height of 2.23m. MVP track club’s Cristoff Bryan was second, also clearing 2.23m, but with more attempts. G.C. Foster’s Lushane Wilson was third with 2.15m.
Adelle Tracey won her first national title after taking the women’s 1500m in 4:19.23 minutes. Aisha Praught-Leer was second in 4:23.05. The women’s discus title was captured by Samantha Hall with a throw of 59.81m.