Nugent clocked 39.81 to establish what is believed to be a Jamaican national record for the event. Her coach Lennox Graham was just grateful that she was well enough to run.
“She has been progressing well. Her foot issues, which prevented her attending practices for much of last year, have greatly improved,” he said.
“With the forced shutdown in late March she got some more time to focus even more on rehab - she was away from any training for about 7-8 weeks. So, I feel good about her current performance considering less than ideal preparations.”
Nugent at finalist at the 2017 World Championships in London was happy for the victory.
“Thankful for the big and little victories,” she posted on Instagram.
“Our plan was to just shake off the rust after being out with injuries last year. I didn’t know I broke the Jamaican national 300m hurdles record too! I’m so grateful for a little glimmer of hope in the world right now.”
Nugent was not the only Jamaican winner on Saturday as national 800m champion Natoya Goule was also victorious in the two-lap event.
With just one other competitor in the race, Goule cruised to victory in 2:00.43 and said afterwards that under the circumstances, she was satisfied with the performance.
“At first I wasn’t satisfied because I know I can run faster, but when I look on the face of it that I’m not in race shape and it is my first outdoor race I am satisfied,” she said.
“I’ve always opened up with two minutes outdoors and during the season I would get faster so I am satisfied considering that I took time off then started back up again during the lockdown. I know if I was able to compete like the norm, I would have run a good time even though I was running by myself.”
Laurie Barton was a distant second in 2:05.72.
Danielle Williams, the 2019 World Championship bronze medallist won the 100 hurdles in 13.23.
Rhonda Whyte, a former Jamaican champion in the 400m hurdles also chalked up a victory as she continued to prepare for the Jamaican championships next month.
The 27-year-old McLeod, the defending Olympic champion, gave an early glimpse of what can be expected this season when he raced to victory in 13.11, the second-fastest time in the world this year. Only Grant Holloway, who dethroned the Jamaican at the 2019 Doha World Championships, has run faster this season.
The American ran a world-leading 13.07 in Gainesville, Florida on April 17.
The victory represents a welcome return to form for the Jamaican, who has struggled over the past few years during which he changed coaches twice. Now under the guidance of coach Rana Rieder at the Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida, he seems to have rediscovered the form that led him to the Olympic title at Rio 2016 and the World title in London in 2017.
“Ran 13.11s today for a season opener! Fastest opener in over 4 years and first 110 race in almost 2 years!” he declared proudly on his Facebook page afterwards. That’s patience, hard work, faith, resilience, commitment, staying true to you, blocking out the noise and trust!”
The former Razorback defeated a quality field of athletes including former USA champion Devon Allen, who ran 13.26 while finishing second. The talented and dangerous Daniel Roberts finished third, stopping the clock at 13.30.
Also in the race was world-record holder Aries Merritt, who is making a comeback after a serious illness. He was sixth in 13.90.
Britany Anderson, the 2018 World U20 silver medalist ran a fast 12.69 to win the 100m hurdles. The time would have been a personal best had the trailing wind not been just above the allowable limit, registering at 2.1m/s.
Second place went to Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, who clocked 12.74.
Tia Jones, who edged Anderson at the World U20 Championships in Tampere, was third in 12.95, just ahead of Pedrya Seymour of the Bahamas who finished fourth in 12.96.
Former Jamaica national champion, Rhonda Whyte, won the 400m hurdles in 55.11 in an all-Caribbean 1-2-3. Whyte’s compatriot, Leah Nugent finished in second place in 56.12 while Sparkle McKnight from Trinidad and Tobago finished third in 56.54.
It was her first win and first mark over 19m since she threw 19.17m on April 10 in Miramar, Florida. In her three, previous outings she had marks of 18.46m, 18.91m and 18.46, respectively. In Tennessee, she got the better of a quality field of athletes like Jessica Ramsay of the USA, who threw 18.78m.
Raven Saunders put 18.50m for third.
Fourth-place was taken by young Jamaican thrower Lloydricia Cameron, who managed a best effort of 17.57m.
Meanwhile, Christopher Taylor, also produced a season-best in the 400m, clocking 45.67 to finish behind Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas who cruised to victory in 45.06. Quintaveon Poole was third in 45.92.
Leah Nugent also produced a season-best 55.34 while chasing World Championship silver medalist Sydney McLaughlin. The second-fastest woman of all time over the distance clocked a world-leading 52.83 in her first race in the event this season.
Sage Watson of Canada was third in 56.04. Sparkle McKnight of Trinidad and Tobago also ran a season-best 56.06 for fourth.
The USA’s Andre Hudson ran 10.27 to win the 100m dash in which Jevaughn Minzie finished fourth in 10.41.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Mohammed (10.32) and Canada’s Bismark Boateng (10.35) took the other podium spots.
