Shericka Jackson and Kishane Thompson of MVP Track Club secured the women’s and men’s 100-meter titles, respectively, on Friday’s second day of the JAAA/Puma National Championships inside the National Stadium.
The 22-year-old Thompson stormed to victory in a world-leading and personal best time of 9.77 seconds, after running past Oblique Seville, who equaled his personal best of 9.82 seconds for second place. Third place went to Ackeem Blake in 9.92 seconds.
In the women’s equivalent, defending champion Jackson overcame a relatively slow start before powering through to win in 10.84 seconds. Clubmate, the 19-year-old Tia finished second in 10.90 seconds, while veteran Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce placed third in 10.94 seconds.
“This year I trusted my body and my coach. It was not my best start to the season, but I am happy for the win. The objective was to come and make the team, and I did that by finishing in the top three,” Jackson told the media.
Malik James-King upstages Roshawn Clarke
In the men’s 400m hurdles final, Malik James-King of Titans Track Club upstaged national record holder and defending champion Roshawn Clarke of Swept Track Club. James-King finished strongly to clock a personal best of 47.42 seconds, on his 25th birthday. Clarke finished second in 48.04 seconds, and former champion Jaheel Hyde was third in a season’s best of 48.35 seconds.
On the women’s side, Rushelle Clayton, who has been in top form all season, captured the title at the National Championships, with a personal best of 52.51 seconds, making her the second-fastest Jamaican female in the event. Janieve Russell of MVP Track Club finished second in a season’s best of 53.7 seconds, while Shian Salmon of SprinTec took third in 54.33 seconds.
Deandre Watkin of Elite Performance Track Club delivered a surprising performance in the men’s 400m final, winning with a personal best of 44.48 seconds. Watkin led comfortably at the halfway stage and maintained his form to hold off defending champion Sean Bailey, who finished second in 44.65 seconds. JeVaughn Powell rallied late to take third in 44.74 seconds. Former national champion Demish Gaye failed to finish after pulling up due to injury.
In the junior category of the National Championships, Edwin Allen High’s Kelly Ann Carr won the Under-20 girls’ 400m hurdles with a personal best of 57.66 seconds, ahead of Rhianna Lewis of Rhodes Hall High (59.68 seconds) and D’schanique Douglas of Excelsior High (59.72 seconds).
Junior category
Daniel Wright of Excelsior claimed the boys’ Under-20 400m hurdles title with a personal best of 49.88 seconds. Trevoy Smith of Herbert Morrison Technical finished second in 50.92 seconds, and Brandon Harris of St Jago High took third in 51.44 seconds.
Aisha Praught Leer and St Jago’s Rahiem Walker were crowned senior women’s and men’s 1500 meters champions, respectively. Praught Leer clocked 4:25.63 minutes to beat Adelle Tracey (4:26.44), while Walker won with a time of 4:07.70, ahead of 5000m champion Noel Ellis of The University of the West Indies (4:11.92) and Andrew Powell of Pure Track Club (4:26.83).
Jaydon Hibbert opted to compete among the juniors instead of the seniors and won the Under-20 long jump with a mark of 7.98m, aided by a 3.1 meters-per-second wind. Michael Andre Edwards of Jamaica College placed second with 7.57m, and Rickoy Hunter of St Elizabeth Technical took third with 7.33m. Hibbert’s second-best attempt of 7.73m secured his qualification for the World Under-20 Championships.
Jamaica College’s Shaiquan Dunn continued his impressive form by winning the Under-20 boys’ discus with 17.90m. Javantae Smith of Munro College was second with 16.87m, and his teammate Devont Edwards took third with 16.70m.
