Kishane Thompson threw down the gauntlet to his 100m rivals at the National Championships inside the National Stadium on Thursday with a personal best of 9.82 seconds (1.0m/s) to win the opening round of the men’s short sprint.
On his seasonal debut, the MVP athlete, who entered the event highly touted by camp, recorded the fastest time entering Friday’s semi-finals. He had also impressed with 9.91 seconds in the first round at the Trials last year but has been plagued by shin splints which restricted his season.
Thompson thus equaled Oblique Seville’s personal best run at the Racers Grand Prix, positioning him joint second in the world behind Ferdinand Omanyala’s world-leading 9.79 seconds. Defending champion Seville clocked 9.98 seconds (0.4m/s) to win his heat, while Ackeem Blake was another runner under 10.00 seconds with 9.95 seconds (1.0m/s) behind Thompson.
Julian Forte impressed with a season’s best 10.00 seconds, the same time run by Sandrey Davison. Ryiem Forde clocked 10.02 seconds, and defending champion Rohan Watson and Bryan Levell both ran 10.07 seconds, with Levell achieving a personal best. Sachin Dennis recorded his lifetime best with 10.04 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce, Jackson appear in good nick
Meanwhile, icons Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson appeared in good nick with sub-11.00-second performances in their first-round 100m heats. Fraser-Pryce won her race in a season’s best 10.98 seconds (0.7m/s), while Jackson cruised to a 10.99-second (0.9m/s) run.
Jodean Williams ran a lifetime best of 11.01 seconds (0.9m/s), and Tia Clayton also set a personal record with 11.02 seconds (0.7m/s). Shashalee Forbes recorded a season’s best of 11.03 seconds (1.5m/s), Natasha Morrison and Krystal Morrison both ran 11.12 seconds. Tina Clayton, Kemba Nelson, Alana Reid, and Briana Williams also advanced.
The final of the Men’s 400m event, scheduled for 8:50 pm on Friday, promises a thrilling showdown with the nation’s top eight quarter-milers competing for three coveted spots on Jamaica’s team for the Paris Olympic Games.
Defending champion Sean Bailey and Jevaughn Powell produced strong performances in the semi-finals of the men’s 400m. Bailey clinched victory in his semi-final with 44.95 seconds, leading all qualifiers, while Powell holds the second-fastest time of 45.00 seconds. Others such as Demish Gaye (45.18), Deandre Watkin (45.19), Zandrion Barnes (45.34), and Rusheen McDonald (45.60) also advanced to Friday’s final.
400m World Champ Watson out
However, 400m World Champion Antonio Watson suffered an injury in his semi-finals, and pulled up half way through.
In the women’s long jump final, three-time NCAA champion Ackelia Smith secured victory with a leap of 6.53m. Chanice Porter claimed second place with 6.49m, and Tissanna Hickling took third with 6.36m. Though none met the Olympic standard of 6.86m, Smith, ranked 12th globally with a season’s best jump of 6.85m, is likely to secure a spot on Jamaica’s Olympic team based on international rankings.
Malik James-King continued his impressive season by winning his semi-final in the men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 48.68 seconds. Roshawn Clarke, with 49.06 seconds, enters the final as the second-quickest this year. Veteran Roxroy Cato (49.48), Assinie Wilson (49.88), Jaheel Hyde (50.02), and Antonio Forbes (50.39) are among the other prominent qualifiers.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Janieve Russell led all qualifiers into the final with a season’s best of 54.00 seconds. Andrenette Knight secured the second-fastest time of 54.09, while Rushell Clayton, the fastest Jamaican this year with a season’s best of 53.72, also advanced. Ronda Whyte (55.77), Shiann Salmon (56.49), Gabrielle Matthews (56.95), and Lashanna Graham (57.20) complete the final line-up.
Friday’s Schedule
- 9:30 am: Decathlon Men 110 Meter Hurdles Finals
- 10:20 am: Girls 19 & Under 400 Meter Dash Under 20 Semi
- 10:35 am: Boys 19 & Under 400 Meter Under 20 Semi
- 11:00 am: Decathlon Men Discus Throw Finals
Evening Schedule
- 4:00 pm: Decathlon Men Pole Vault Finals
- 4:01 pm: Boys 19 & Under Long Jump Finals
- 4:02 pm: Boys 19 & Under Shot Put Finals
- 5:00 pm: Opening Ceremony
- 5:25 pm: Girls 19 & Under 1500 Meter Run Finals
- 5:32 pm: Boys 19 & Under 1500 Meter Run Finals
- 5:39 pm: Women 20+ 1500 Meter Run Finals
- 5:46 pm: Men 20+ 1500 Meter Run Finals
- 6:04 pm: Men 20+ High Jump Finals
- 6:08 pm: Girls 19 & Under Shot Put Finals
- 6:20 pm: Girls 19 & Under 400 Meter Hurdles Finals
- 6:30 pm: Boys 19 & Under 400 Meter Hurdles Finals
- 6:40 pm: Women 20+ 400 Meter Hurdles Finals
- 6:50 pm: Men 20+ 400 Meter Hurdles Finals
- 7:05 pm: Girls 19 & Under 100 Meter Dash Semi-finals
- 7:25 pm: Boys 19 & Under 100 Meter Dash Semi-finals
- 7:40 pm: Women 20+ 100 Meter Dash Semi-finals
- 7:55 pm: Men 20+ 100 Meter Dash Semi-finals
- 8:15 pm: Women 20+ 800 Meter Run Finals
- 8:20 pm: Men 20+ 800 Meter Run Finals
- 8:30 pm: Men 20+ 400 Meter Dash Semi-finals
- 8:50 pm: Girls 19 & Under 100 Meter Dash Finals
- 8:55 pm: Boys 19 & Under 100 Meter Dash Finals
- 9:05 pm: Women 20+ 100 Meter Dash Finals
- 9:15 pm: Men 20+ 100 Meter Dash Finals
