Yohan Blake wins 200m in 20.22, Megan Tapper storms to windy 12.48 in California

Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in Athletics. | 18 July 2021 | 5838 Views
Tags: Athletics, American Track League, California, Usa, Jazeel Murphy, Jevaughn Minzie, Megan Tapper, Nathon Allen, Remona Burchell, Tovea Jenkins, Yohan Blake

Yohan Blake and Megan Tapper scored impressive victories in their respective events at the American Track League meeting in California on Sunday.

It was a meet that several Caribbean athletes used as a tune-up before their expected departures to Tokyo, Japan for the Olympic Games that begin later this week.

Blake, who is contesting both 100m and 200m at the Olympics ran 20.22 in a blanket finish with Rasheed Dwyer, who defeated him at the national championships in Kingston last month. Dwyer was given the same time.

Jevaughn Minzie was third in 20.29 while the ever-improving Jazeel Murphy ran 20.49 for fourth.

Minzie had earlier won the 100m in 10.09 in slightly windy conditions. The wind registered at 2.3m/s just above the allowable limit.

It was a race where the top four places were separated by 0.02 seconds. Chris Royster of the United States was given the same time as Minzie while Travis Collins finished third in 10.10. Tyquendo Tracey was fourth in 10.11.

Murphy was sixth in 10.15. The former Bridgeport High School star ran a lifetime best of 10.17 during the preliminary round.

Candice Hill won the women’s 200m in 22.30, a time aided by a trailing wind of 3.3m/s. Anastasia Le-Roy, who missed out on the chance to make Jamaica’s team to Tokyo, was second in 22.79. Cassondra Hall of the USA was third in 22.97.

Hill won the 100m in 10.99 (2.5m/s) ahead of Tristan Evelyn of Barbados (11.23) and Jamaica’s Remona Burchell (11.24).

Tapper, the newly minted national 100m hurdles champion, clocked 12.48 to win her event in commanding fashion ahead of Evonne Britton, who ran 12.72 and Yanique Thompson (12.75). The time would have been a massive lifetime best for Tapper had it not been for a heavy tailwind of 3.6m/s.

Ronda Whyte ran 55.57 to win the 400m hurdles defeating Puerto Rico’s Grace Claxton, who ran 56.26. Canada’s Noelle Montcalm ran 56.37 for third place.

The flat 400m was won by Tovea Jenkins in 51.53 after holding off the challenge of Jaide Stepter of the USA who ran 51.87. Le-Roy was third in 51.98.

Khallifah Rosser won the men’s event in 45.74 ahead of Nathon Allen, who clocked 45.89. South Africa’s Derrick Mokaleng was third in 46.04, the same time that was given to Demish Gaye, who was fourth.