Briana Williams ran a lifetime best to cruise into the semi-final round of the Women’s 60m dash as she debuted at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade on Friday morning Caribbean time.
Her compatriot, Shericka Jackson is also through to the next round.
Lined up in the final of six heats, the 19-year-old Olympian shot from the blocks, and running relaxed, sped away from the field to win in 7.06, lowering her personal best from the 7.09 she ran at the New Balance Grand Prix in February.
She was the fastest Caribbean athlete through to the semi-final round of the competition as Shericka Jackson ran 7.16 to finish second in Heat 5 behind Great Britain’s Daryll Neita, who clocked 7.13.
Meanwhile, Mikiah Brisco of the USA was the fastest through to the semis after she ran 7.03 to win Heat 3. Gold medal favourite Ewa Swoboda, who owns the world lead of 6.99, cruised through to the next round in 7.10. Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas finished third in Swoboda’s heat in 7.22.
Mary-Beth Sant Price of the USA, who is also a medal prospect, ran 7.07 to win the opening heat.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Lee Ahye also advanced after clocking 7.23 to be the runner up in Heat 2 behind Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji, who won in 7.17.
In the 400m, Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the next round after easily winning his heat in 46.69 while Christopher Taylor finished second in his heat in 46.48 to also advance to the next round.
Among the women, Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Stephenie-Ann McPherson along with Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams all advanced to the semi-finals. Miller-Uibo and McPherson finished 1-2 in Heat 5 in 51.74 and 51.86, respectively while Abrams was second in Heat 4 in 52.34.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Excelsior leads Jamaican 1-2-3 in Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m at Penn Relays
Excelsior High emerged victorious in the Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m on the third and final day at the 128th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Their quartet of Ryeem Walker, Damor Miller, Malike Nugent and Lennon Green combined to run 40.45 to secure the school’s first win in the event since 1967.
Kingston College (Daniel Clarke, Yourie Lawrence-Clarke, Nyrone Wade, Marcinho Rose) were second in 40.53 and Herbert Morrison (Ky-Mani Hemmings, Tavaine Stewart, Chance Segree, De Andre Daley) completed a Jamaican 1-2-3 with 40.56 in third.
Smith produces season’s best to win long jump at Texas Invitational
Texas junior Ackelia Smith produced an NCAA leading performance to take top spot on day one of the Texas Invitational at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday.
The 22-year-old reigning NCAA champion produced a season’s best 7.10m, her first jump over 7m this season, to win ahead of Trinidadian Puma athlete Tyra Gittens (6.72m) and UTSA’s Ida Breigan (6.65m).
This is a welcome return to form for Smith who suffered a torn hamstring at the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.
Smith was Jamaica’s national champion in the long jump in 2022 and was a finalist in both the long and triple jump at that year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Paulino extends 400m winning streak to seven in Shanghai
Dom Rep’s Marileidy Paulino followed up her triumph at the season’s Diamond League opener in Xiamen last week with another victory at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday.
The reigning World champion produced 50.89 to win ahead of American Talitha Diggs who ran 51.77 and Bajan two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams who ran 52.00 in third.
Paulino’s winning streak in the 400m has now stretched to seven races.
It was déjà vu in the women’s 100m hurdles as reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho Quinn just pipped World Indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder Devynne Charlton on the line, just as it played out in Xiamen last week.
Camacho-Quinn ran 12.63 compered to Charlton’s 12.64. Two-time World champion Danielle Williams was third in 12.74.
The men’s 110m hurdles saw American Daniel Roberts get his second win in a row to kick off the Diamond League season. His winning time was 13.12, comfortably ahead of Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23) and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment’s season’s best 13.26.
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