Ace triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts, shot-putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd, and discus thrower Travis Smikle all retained their respective National titles on the third day of the four-day JAAA/PUMA National Senior and Junior Championships inside the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Two-time IAAF World Athletics Championships silver medalist Ricketts easily turned back the challenge of Ackelia Smith to land gold in her pet event with a wind-aided (2.6mps) 14.79m.
Smith cut the sand at 14.26m with Imani Oliver (13.44m) finishing in third place.
Like Ricketts, Smith had previously achieved the qualifying standard of 14.52m and Jamaica could be represented by a third jumper, Kimberly Williams, who is highly placed on the World Ranking quota list.
National Record holder Thomas-Dodd with 19.77m threw 19.08m to retain her National title in a year where she has demonstrated admirable consistency.
Now ranked number four in the world, Thomas-Dodd easily brushed aside Lloydricia Cameron who had a best throw of 16.37m.
In the men’s discus, Smikle of Reckless Control had a best throw of 66.12m to better Roje Stona with 65.92m and Smikle’s teammate and National Record holder Fedrick Dacres (70.78m) with 65.79m.
All three had already attained the qualifying standard of 67m.
In a very competitive long jump final, Wayne Pinnock cut the sand at 8.32m to land gold ahead of 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle (8.27m) and Carey McLeod (8.20m).
Pinnock opened with a jump of 7.23m before his 8.32m in the second attempt, followed by an 8.31m and 8.23m effort. He passed on his last two jumps.
Gayle, meantime, opened with his best effort before fouling on the next three attempts. He had 8.20m on his fifth and fouled his last effort as he continues to struggle with his speed on the runway.
All three are expected to be in Hungary for the World Athletics Championships, having attained the 8.25m qualifying standard.
In the 200m women’s semi-finals, Shashalee Forbes (22.84secs), Shericka Jackson (22.88secs), Natalliah Whyte (23.00secs), Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce (22.39secs), Lanae-Taya Thomas (22.46secs), Natasha Morrison (22.86secs), Kevona Davis (22.94secs) and Jodean Williams (23.07secs) all advanced to Sunday’s final.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, who disappointed into fourth place in the women’s 100m final on Friday, thus being ruled out of an individual place in the event in Hungary, failed to show up for the 200m heats.
On the men’s side, Andrew Hudson (20.31secs), Shevioe Reid (20.55secs), Adrian Kerr (20.67secs), Rasheed Dwyer (20.25secs), Tyquendo Tracey (20.75secs), Yohan Blake (20.35secs), Nigel Ellis (20.52secs) and Bryan Levell (20.55secs) all made it to Sunday’s final.
In the women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals, Yanique Thompson (12.53secs), Ackera Nugent (12.80secs), Paula Salmon (12.95secs), Megan Tapper (12.44secs), Amoi Brown (12.61secs), Danielle Williams (12.61secs), Crystal Morrison (12.70secs) and Rosealee Cooper (13.37secs) made it through.
Rasheed Broadbell (13.06secs) led all comers into the 110m hurdles final after Saturday’s semis. He will be joined by Orlando Bennett (13.24secs), Tyler Mason (13.12secs), Giano Roberts (13.33secs), Dejour Russell (13.39secs), Hansle Parchment (13.29secs), Damion Thomas (13.40secs) and Jaheem Hayles (13.51secs).
Nickisha Pryce led all runners in the women’s 400m semis with a 50.60-second clocking. She was joined by Janieve Russell, the 400m hurdles champion in 50.98 seconds, Charokee Young (50.99secs), Stacey Ann Williams (51.14secs), Shian Salmon (51.22secs), Joanne Reid (51.74secs), Candice McLeod (51.36secs) and Ronda Whyte (51.99secs).
In the men’s equivalent, Sean Bailey leads the field into Sunday’s final with a 44.90secs semi-final run. D’Andre Anderson (45.02secs), Zandrion Barnes (45.15secs), Malik James-King (45.22secs), Antonio Watson (45.00secs), Demish Gaye (45.38secs), Jevaughn Powell (45.24secs), and Deandre Watkin (45.26secs) will join him.
The championships come to an end today.
