Budapest-bound Jamaicans sharpen up in Memphis

SEVERAL OF Jamaica’s top athletes, who have qualified for the Budapest World Athletics Championships, were in action on Friday night at the Ed Murphy Classics in Memphis, Tennessee.

Antonio Watson, Roshawn Clarke, and Natalliah Whyte picked up wins in their respective events, while Oblique Seville was second.

Watson continued his good form in the men’s 400 metres, recording another sub-45 second clocking. The runner-up at the National Championships, Watson, won the one-lap event in 44.69 seconds, leaving Grenada’s Kirani James (44.92) to settle for second. Justin Robinson of the United States was third in 45.09, while Jamaica’s Demish Gaye finished fifth in 45.44.

Clarke scored a good win in his first competitive race since his surprise win at the National Championships in the men’s 400 metres hurdles, where he equalled the World Junior record.

In a very close finish, he clocked 48.52 seconds to get the better of Ezekiel Nathaniel of Nigeria, 48.56, and David Kendziera of the United States, 48.87, second and third, respectively.

The other win on the night for Jamaica came in the women’s 200 metres.

Fourth-place finisher at the National Championships, Whyte, won the event in 22.76 seconds, relegating the United States’ Talitha Diggs, 22.83, and Favour Ofili of Nigeria, 22.94, to second and third.

Competing for the first time since his third-place finish in the 100 metres final at the National Championships, Seville showed signs that he is getting back to his best, clocking 9.98 seconds for second in the sprint event. Marvin Bracy Williams of the United States took the win in 9.96, with his teammate, Christian Coleman, third in 10.03.

There was a top-three finish for national 200m champion, Andrew Hudson, in the men’s half-lap event. Hudson clocked 20.51 seconds for third as Andre De Grasse of Canada won in 20.19, ahead of Kyree King of the United States, second in 20.45. Jamaica’s Rasheed Dwyer was fourth in 20.69.

Ackera Nugent clocked 12.68 seconds for fourth in the 100m hurdles, as Danielle Williams, 12.79, and Yanique Thompson, 12.80, ended sixth and seventh.

The United States grabbed the top-three spots through Alaysha Johnson, 12.49, Masai Russell, 12.52, and Tia Jones, 12.59.