Jamaica Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah, coasted to victory in the women’s 100m at the Velocity Fest meet, at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Thompson-Herah crossed the line in section one of the event, in a time of 11.21, well clear of Sprintec’s Remona Mitchell who was second in 11.35. Thompson-Herah’s MVP teammate Natasha Morrison took third overall after winning section 2 in a time of 11.41.
In the men’s equivalent, former world record holder Asafa Powell was forced to settle for third spot after crossing the line in 10.48. MVP’s Nigel Stewart took the top spot with a time of 10.39, just ahead of Sprintec’s Rodney Brendon who clocked 10.40.
In the women’s 200m, decorated multiple champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the event after crossing the line in 22.66, winning section 2 ahead of Stephanie McPherson who was second in 22.90. Section one winner Brianna Lyston was third overall in 23.28.
The men’s equivalent was won by Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes who destroyed the competition after recording 20.14. Sprintech’s Romario Williams was second in 20.59, with Petersfield Antonio Williams third in 20.70.
In the women’s 400m, first place went to Sprint Tech’s Ronda Whyte, who finished first in 51.28. Second place went to UWI Mona’s Candice McCleod (51.56) with Roneisha McGregor taking third in 52.06.
LaFond, Paulino among winners at USATF LA Grand Prix
World champions Thea LaFond and Marileidy Paulino were among the winners on day two of the USATF LA Grand Prix at the UCLA Drake Stadium on Saturday.
LaFond produced 14.37m in the fifth round to win ahead of Jamaican two-time World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts (14.36m) and American Tori Franklin (13.87m).
LaFond made history in March when she became the first Dominican to win gold at a World Athletics Championships. She produced a national record 15.01m to take top spot at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino remained unbeaten this season with 50.27 to win ahead of World 800m champion Mary Moraa (50.56) and American Alexis Holmes (50.73).
2011 World champion Kirani James was second in the men's equivalent in a season's best 44.85 behind American 2022 World champion Michael Norman Jr who won in 44.53. Vernon Norwood was third in 44.86.
World Championship finalist and world U-20 record holder Roshawn Clarke opened his season in the 400m hurdles with a respectable 48.11 to finish second behind American Rai Benjamin who ran a world leading 46.64. World Championship silver medallist Kyron McMaster was third in 48.51.
Andrenette Knight ran a season’s best 54.69 for second in the women’s equivalent behind American Anna Cockrell who ran a season’s best of her own with 53.75. Cassandra Tate was third in 55.02.
On Friday's day one, Jamaica's Roje Stona threw 66.93m to win the men's discus ahead of Chile's Claudio Romero (64.12m) and the USA's Brian Williams (63.36m).
Forte balances injury concerns with Olympic aspirations; Rabat Diamond League his next target
As Julian Forte stepped onto the track at the Jamaica Athletic Invitational, last Saturday, he carried with him a mixture of concern and determination. This as he only recently returned from nursing an Achilles injury, which threatened to derail his season.
Despite his concerns, Forte, through stubborn determination and a desire to enjoy a successful season, delivered a stellar performance to win the men’s 100m in a season’s best 10.02 seconds, as he improved on the 10.07s he ran a week prior at the JAAA’s All Comers Meet, also staged at the National Stadium.
Not only did the winning time solidify Forte’s hold as the fastest Jamaican male sprinter this year, but it was also a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into his training, which is laser-focused on his ultimate goal – securing a spot on the Olympic podium.
“I'm feeling good. I'm really pleased with my performance and really pleased with where I'm at right now. It hasn't been smooth sailing, but I am really grateful to have come out with a victory,” Forte said, a hint of relief in his voice, as he iced his hamstring.
“My hamstring never felt a 100 per cent at about 60 metres in, but I never wanted to stop. It didn't feel that bad, so I just kind of carried on with the race. It doesn't feel like anything serious, so I just have to go back, assess it and make sure I come back stronger,” he shared.
With the National Trials to select the country’s athletics team to this summer’s Paris Olympic Games on the horizon, Forte's focus has been on maintaining his fitness and avoiding any setbacks, which is crucial in determining his path to the global multi-sport showpiece dubbed the pinnacle of every athlete’s career.
While things don’t always go as planned, the 31-year-old, who at his optimum clocked personal best times of 9.91s and 19.97s for the 100m and 200m, intends to keep pushing himself, remain positive, and trust his abilities.
Simply put, with hard work and a bit of luck, Forte, who was a part of the 4X100m relay team that placed fourth at the Tokyo Games, and boast a Commonwealth Games relay gold medal, has no doubt that he can achieve his dreams of securing an Olympic medal.
“I just came back about five weeks ago; I was out with an Achilles injury for about seven weeks, so it's never smooth sailing for me and the past seasons were never injury free. But we're trying to learn from each injury and find a way to still compete and still do well,” said Forte, who has represented Jamaica at the 2012, 2015 and 2017 World Athletics Championships.
“Like I said earlier, I like where I'm at. I think the execution is well done and just glad for victory. So, my expectation is definitely to make it to Paris where I am aiming for a medal at the Games. That is the goal,” he declared.
For now, Forte has his sights on the Diamond League Meet in Rabat, on Sunday, where he will face off against some of the world's top sprinters.
“The Diamond League is always a tough competition, but I'm looking forward to the challenge,” he ended.
Next time I touch the 100m: Kerley has sights set on Bolt’s world record
2022 World 100m champion Fred Kerley has his sights set on Usain Bolt’s 15-year-old 100m World Record.
In fact, the 29-year-old says that the next time he does the event, he will become the fastest man ever.
“World record next time I touch the 100m,” Kerley said on Twitter on Tuesday.
Usain Bolt’s mark stands at an incredible 9.58 done to win his maiden World Championship gold medal at the Berlin World Championships on August 16, 2009.
Bolt is the only man to ever run faster than 9.60 with Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake the only other men to run sub 9.70.
Gay and Blake both have a personal best of 9.69 to be joint-second on the all-time list.
Kerley, one of the only athletes ever to go sub-10 in the 100m, sub-20 in the 200m and sub-44 in the 400m, has a personal best of 9.76 done at the World Championships in 2022 in Eugene where he went on to claim 100m gold.
His time puts him in a three-way tie for sixth all-time alongside countrymen Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell.
Asafa Powell (9.72), Justin Gatlin (9.74) and Ferdinand Omanyala (9.77) make up the top ten.
This season, Kerley has competed four times in the 100m. He opened his season with a win at the Hurricane Invitational on March 16 in Coral Gables, Florida with 10.03 and followed that up at the same venue on April 6 in the Hurricane Alumni Invitational with 10.11 to also come out on top.
Kerley then competed at the season’s first two Diamond League events in Xiamen and Suzhou on April 20 and 27, respectively. He first ran 10.17 to finish second in Xiamen before running 10.11 for third in Suzhou.
He most recently competed at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational on May 11 where he ran 20.17 to finish second in the men’s 200m.
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