Forbes hits top form in 60m at Queen’s meet

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS representative Shashalee Forbes was in spanking form over 60 metres at the Queen’s /Grace Jackson Invitational meet on Saturday at the National Stadium.

The Maurice Wilson-coached athlete romped to victory in a world-leading 7.03 seconds. Coming off a win in the event a week earlier at the Central Hurdles and Relay meet in 7.14, the SprinTec athlete executed a well -run race to win in convincing style as Briana Williams of Dynamic Athletics Track Club was left back in second place in a season’s best 7.11, with Tia Clayton of MVP Track Club third in a personal-best 7.18.

Forbes’ winning time surpassed the previous world best of 7.04 set earlier in the day by Polish star Ewa Swoboda at the Orlen Cup, a World Athletics Indoor Tour bronze meeting in Lodz, Poland.

“It was a great run,” said Forbes. “I had a shaky start but I maintained focus, which was very good, and equalled my personal best.”

With the World Indoor Championships set for March 1-3 in Glasgow, Scotland, she is eyeing a spot on the national team for the championships.

“The win means that I am in good shape and I am healthy, and hopefully, I make the cut for the World Indoor Championships,” said Forbes.

Running in the penultimate heat in the men’s 60m, Dynamics Athletics Track Club’s Ackeem Blake clocked 6.49 to top the event. Former Edwin Allen High star Brian Levell, representing Uptimum Performance Track Club, was second in 6.59, while Emre Barnes of Turkey, representing Elite Performance Track Club , won his heat in 6.60 for third overall.