Gay wins in Jamaica in world leading time

Gay clocks world leading time in Kingston

By Dania Bogle


The USA's Tyson Gay signalled a return to form with a world leading 9.86 seconds to win the men's 100m at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet at Kingston's National Stadium on Saturday.

Gay pumped his way past Jamaica's Nesta Carter who was out the blocks like a bullet but could not hold off the fast advancing Jamaican.

Gay said he was glad to be back in Jamaica after several seasons away due to injury.

Carter bemoaned his finish in 10.03 seconds: "I had a very good race (but) the last part wasn't so good. I'm working on a lot of stuff this year. Hopefully things will improve."
 

The USA’s Darvis Patton finished a close third in 10.07 seconds.


World 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown was among the pack before separating herself in the final metres to take the women's 100 in a time of 11.01.

"I thank God that I'm ok," she said.  "I was able to maintain my composure. My start has been great."

 

Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste was second in 11.06 and Carrie Russell 11.08 was third.

Allyson Felix made her return to the National Stadium for the first time in a decade finishing fifth in her first 100m of the season in a time of 11.13.

"It was good to run on this track again. I'm working on some things right now and. I have six weeks between now and our (US) nationals."

Olympic Games silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was in ominous form and she came off the curve and then powered away from the field in her first 200m of the season to win in 22.38 seconds.

"I have national champs to look forward to," she said adding "I just follow coaches instructions" when it comes to doing what the work needed to perform on a given day.

 

The Jamaican pair of Kerron Stewart (22.71) and Sherone Simpson (22.83) was second and third respectively.


Olympic Games bronze medallist Warren Weir and Nickel Ashmeade chomped 150m of the race together before the more powerfully built Ashmeade turned up the gas to win the men's 200m in a time of 20.00 ahead of Weir’s 20.14 and the USA’s Wallace Spearmon in 20.32 seconds.

 

Jamaica’s Stephanie McPherson held off the challenge for former Olympic champion Christine Ohoroughu of Great Britain sprinting to the line in the final few metres to win in 50.43 as Christine Ohorougu came in a time of 50.58 with Novlene Williams-Mills stopping the clock in 51.05.

 

Former Olympic champion Dawn Harper was unstoppable as she cleared the 100m hurdles in 12.62 as a fast advancing Queen Harrison of Jamaica posted 12.64 and Jessica Zelinka of Canada was third in 13.06.

 

Ti’Erra Brown and Justin Gamon claimed the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles respectively.

 

Brown stopped the clock at 54.83 seconds with Ristananna Tracy of Jamaica was second in 55.86 as Tiffany Williams of the USA in 56.03 while Gamon and his team- mate Kerron Clement both posted 49.23 seconds.  Trinidad and Tobago’s Jehue Gordon finished third in 49.26 seconds.

 

In the high school races Calabar continued their good form this season capturing the  boys 4x400m with Michael O’Hara and Javon Francis on the final two legs to post the fastest time by a high school team in Jamaica in over a decade clocking 3:08.79 ahead of Manchester High School in 3:10.16 and Jamaica College 3:11.79.

 

St. Jago secured the girls event in 3:44.99 followed by STETHS 3:40.66 and St. Mary High 4:05.19.

 

Kingston College blew away the competition to capture the boys 4x100m in 40.57 seconds with Calabar close behind in 40.58 and Green Island 40.64 bringing up third.

 

On the girls’ side St. Jago and STETHS had another 1-2 finish with the Spanish Town based team clocking 46.88 and St. Elizabeth 47.70.