International superstars Noah Lyles, Wayde van Niekerk and Shericka Jackson were the main protagonists who thrilled the crowd with exhilarating performances at the 2023 edition of the Racers Grand Prix inside Kingston’s National Stadium on Saturday evening.
The American Lyes, South African van Niekerk and Jamaican Jackson all recorded new Meet Records in the men’s 200m, the men’s 400m and the women’s 100m finals, respectively.
Lyles brought the curtains down on the program, which was delayed by rain, with his spectacular performance in the 200m
The American, who represented Adidas, got off to a fast start before exploding upon entering the straight to win going away in a Meet Record of 19.67 seconds.
Zharnel Hughes of England and Racers Track Club was second in 20.14 seconds, a season’s best, while Rasheed Dwyer of SprinTec Track Club finished in third place in 20.53 seconds.
Wayde van Niekerk of Adidas sped to a Meet Record of 44.21seconds to beat a quartet of Jamaicans – Zandrion Barnes of G C Foster College in a personal best of 44.90 seconds, Rusheen McDonald of MVP in 45.24 seconds, Demish Gaye of SprinTec Track Club in a season’s best of 45.32 seconds and Karayme Bartley, also in a season’s best 45.80 seconds.
Jackson was quickly out the starting blocks and by the halfway stage the race was all over as a contest as the MVP athlete drew away from rivals for a facile victory in 10.78 seconds (+1.6mps), a new Meet Record.
The Bahamas’ Anthonique Strachan of MVP was second in 10.99 seconds, with SprinTec’s Shashalee Forbes claiming third in 11.07 seconds.
In the women’s B final, Remona Burchell reigned supreme to win in 11.17 seconds ahead of a fast closing Tia Clayton of MVP in a personal best 11.23 seconds, as Briana Williams, the Titans Track Club athlete, faded over the last third of the race after her usual bullet start, to finish in 11.30 seconds for third.
Nike’s American sprint star Christian Coleman won the men’s 100m A final in 10.03 seconds (-0.3mps) after leading from start to finish. He was closed down rapidly towards the end by Jamaica’s G C Foster College rep Kadrian Goldson with a personal best of 10.08 seconds, with third place going to Emanuel Archibald in 10.23 seconds, sometime after his third-place effort in the long jump.
The men’s B final was won by Michael Campbell of MVP in a season’s best 10.08 seconds. Campbell, who was involved in a fatal auto accident six years ago which claimed the life of his close friend while leaving him severely ill, was emotional after crossing the finish line and glancing at the flash time.
It was redemption for the man who probably thought he would never have competed at a high level again.
Tyquendo Tracey of Swept Track Club was second in a season’s best 10.26 seconds, with Barbadian Kuron Griffith of Racers Track Club claiming third place in 10.30 seconds, also a season’s best.
Charokee Young of Jamaica, representing Puma, defeated her compatriot Stacy-Ann Williams of Elite Performance Track Club in the women’s 400m final. Young crossed the finish line in 51.11 seconds, to Williams’ 51.34 seconds.
Kendall Ellis of the US, representing New Balance, was third in a season’s best of 51.37 seconds. Sada Williams of Barbados, who trains with MVP in Jamaica, finished fourth in 51.57 seconds.
The men’s 400m “B” Final was won in impressive fashion by Racers Track Club’s Antonio Watson in a personal best of 44.75 seconds. Countrymen Roshawn Clarke of Swept TC in a personal best of 45.24 seconds finished second, with Assinie Wilson of Titans TC next in a personal best of 45.51 seconds.
Anthony Cox of Racers Track Club finished fourth in a season’s best 45.55 seconds.
Tyler Mason of Elite Performance Track Club won the men’s 110m hurdles final in a wind-aided (+2.3mps) 13.14 seconds ahead of Orlando Bennett of Racers Track Club in 13.18 seconds and Damion Thomas of Puma in 13.29 seconds.
The women’s 100m hurdles final went to World Record holder and World Champion, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan in 12.57 seconds. American Tia Jones was second in 12.72 seconds, with Jamaica’s Olympic Games bronze medalist Megan Tapper finishing third in 12.80 seconds.
In the women’s triple jump, Jamaica’s standard bearer Shanieka Ricketts of the Puma registered 14.32m (-1.5mps) to secure victory ahead of Thea Lafond of Adidas with 14.14m.
Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon of Adidas ran 55.10 seconds to win the women’s 400m hurdles final ahead of compatriot Ronda Whyte of Swept TC in 55.55 seconds and American Cassandra Tate in 55.62 seconds.
Alex Rose from Samoa won the men’s discus throw final with 65.86m, beating the Jamaican trio of Traves Smikle of Reckless Control with 65.15m, the University of the West Indies Mona’s Kai Chang with a season’s best 63.19m, and Fedrick Dacres, also of Reckless Control with 62.85m.
(Photo: CNW Network)
Jamaica’s 2019 World Champion long jumper Tajay Gayle won his pet event with 8.02m for his MVP club, ahead of Shawn-D Thompson of SprinTec Track Club with a season’s best of 7.75m.
Third place went to Guyana’s Emanuel Archibald of Swept Track Club, also with a season’s best 7.75m.
Lushane Wilson, representing G C Foster College, won the high jump with a leap of 2.20m ahead of countryman Raymond Richards with 2.15m, and Richards’ MVP clubmate Christoff Bryan with 2.10m in third place.
