Tue | Jul 2, 2024

Nugent’s show

• Sprint hurdler lowers national record, world champion makes first Olympics • Jamaica fail last-ditch bid to make Olympics • Jackson completes sprint double

Published:Monday | July 1, 2024 | 12:12 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
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Ackera Nugent screams at the realisation she is Jamaica’s national champion over the 100-metre hurdles and headed to the Paris Olympics.
Ian Allen
Ackera Nugent screams at the realisation she is Jamaica’s national champion over the 100-metre hurdles and headed to the Paris Olympics.
An athlete on the Jamaica Green team that failed to qualify for the men’s 4x400-metre relay at the Paris Olympics lies distraught on the National Stadium track at the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships yesterday.
Gladstone Taylor/Multimedia Photo Editor
An athlete on the Jamaica Green team that failed to qualify for the men’s 4x400-metre relay at the Paris Olympics lies distraught on the National Stadium track at the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships yesterday.
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ACKERA NUGENT is the new national record holder over the 100-metre hurdles, stealing the spotlight on an eventful day at the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships at the National Stadium yesterday.

Nugent turned the event into a one-woman show after she screamed from the blocks to win going away from her rivals to clock 12.28 seconds, breaking the record held by Britany Anderson since 2022.

Danielle Williams made her first Olympic team after finishing second in 12.53, with Janeek Brown, third in 12.61. Defending champion and Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper ended fourth in 12.69.

“I am happy. I did well in my build-up coming into the Championships and to win and make my first Olympic team in my first year as a professional is a dream come true. Now it is just to get back to training with my coach as there are some phenomenal women out there in the event,” she said.

In the 110-metre hurdles, Rasheed Broadbell just did enough to separate himself from a blanket finish and retain his title.

Broadbell and Orlando Bennett were both timed in13.18 seconds, with Olympic champion Hansle Parchment not far behind in 13.19.

In the senior women’s 400 metres, world number two and defending champion Nickisha Pryce retained her title and booked her first Olympic spot by winning the event in 50.01 seconds.

Stacy-ann Williams ran a season’s best 50.56 for second, and Junelle Bromfield grabbed the third spot with a season’s best of 51.24.

World champion Shericka Jackson won her second title of the meet, capturing the women’s 200 metres to go with her 100m title.

Jackson’s 22.29 seconds was followed by Lanaee Tava Thomas’ 22.34 and Niesha Burgher’s 22.39.

In his first year as a professional athlete, Bryan Levell was crowned new national champion in the men’s 200 metres. Following his fourth-place finish in the 100 metres two days earlier, Levell set a personal best 19.97 seconds to win. Andrew Hudson finished a close second in 20.02, with Javara Thomas producing a personal best 20.32 for third.

Rajinda Campbell, the national record holder, captured the men’s shot put with a heave of 20.01 metres while Kobe Lawrence was second with 19.88 metres.

Jordan Scoott was crowned champion in the men’s triple jump with 16.87 metres as Obrien Wasome was second with 16.19 metres. Chevaughn Parkinson was third with 15.38 metres.

Jamaica will not have a team in the men’s 4x400 metres relay at the Olympic Games as in their fourth and final attempt, the team failed to qualify.

Despite a gallant effort from Reheem Hayles, Terese Rhoden, Zandrion Barnes, and Kimar Farqhuarson, the Jamaica Green team ended first in 2:59.87 minutes, falling short of the 2:59.12 needed to overtake Zambia for the 16th and final spot.

The Jamaica Gold team was second in 3:02.73, with Jamaica Black third in 3:09.13.