In less than ideal conditions that caused delays, the performances were perhaps not as anticipated. However, the competition was keen.
Anderson was the fastest in the 100m hurdles clocking 12.59 in her heat. Tonea Marshall was the next best with 12.76, marginally better than Chanel Brissett who was third overall in 12.77.
Salmon was the best of the lot in the 400m hurdles with her time of 56.06. Her compatriot Andrenette Knight was second overall with her time of 56.44 while 2021 NCAA champion Anna Cockrell ran 56.77 for third.
Craig Allen won the 400m hurdles in 49.05. Amere Allen Lattin ran 50.69 for second place while Jamaica’s Andre Clarke was third in 51.22.
Mario Heslop was also part of a Jamaican 1-2 in the 200m, winning in 20.76 over Andre Ewers (21.02). Akeem Sirleaf of Liberia was third in 21.07.
Richardson, who was making her season debut after withdrawing from three meets earlier, clocked 11.27 to win the Women’s Exhibition 100m over Twanisha Terry (11.29) and 60m specialist Marybeth Saint-Price (11.34).
Richardson was fourth in another 100m dash on the night, running 11.37 for fourth in her heat and fifth overall. Aleia Hobbs was the fastest on the night with her time of 11.28.
Kayla White (11.30) and Brittany Brown (11.30), were second and third, respectively.
Gayle won the long jump with a leap of 7.83m.
The 27-year-old ran 32.58, the fifth fastest time in the world this year, to win the event ahead of Jamaica’s Mario Heslop (33.67) and Fabian Hewitt (34.42). Gardiner holds the World Record for the event with a 31.56 clocking in January 2022.
Gardiner, who finished top of the podium at the 2019 World Championships and 2021 Olympics, opened his season with a 33.03 effort to win his section of the 300m at the South Carolina Invitational on February 3.
The 2017 World Championship silver medallist is working his way back from a heel injury that forced him out of action for seven months, meaning he was unable to defend his World title in Eugene in July.
His last race before the layoff was on the 24th of June at the Bahamas Championships in Nassau where he won in 45.22.
Elsewhere, Guyanese Olympian Aliyah Abrams won the women’s 400m in 52.09 ahead of Jessica Gbai (53.64) and Alexis Williams (55.39).
The three 100m medalists from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics all looked extremely easy to win their semi-finals in 22.54, 22.68 and 22.85, respectively.
Jackson, who secured the 100m title on Friday, looked especially easy, completely shutting down in the last 100m of the race.
Natalliah Whyte (23.05), Ashanti Moore (23.21), Kevona Davis (23.33), Jodean Williams (23.21) and Dominique Clarke (23.29) will join them in the final.
Meanwhile, 100m Champion Yohan Blake led all qualifiers to the Men’s final with a season’s best 20.20 to win his semi-final ahead of Andrew Hudson (20.23).
2020 Olympic finalist Rasheed Dwyer will also contest Sunday’s final after producing 20.35 to win his semi-final ahead of Nigel Ellis (20.45).
Mario Heslop (20.52), Riquan Graham (20.66), Jazeel Murphy (20.67) and Antonio Watson (20.74) complete the line-up for the final.
NCAA Championships silver medalist Charokee Young (50.19), 2020 Olympic finalist Candice McLeod (50.85), Stacey-Ann Williams (50.87) and 2013 World Championship bronze medalist Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.67) led all qualifiers to the Women’s 400m final.
The men were led by Jevaughn Powell (45.38), Anthony Cox (45.43), Nathon Allen (45.52) and Akeem Bloomfield (45.59).
The qualifiers for the Women’s sprint hurdles final were led by Britany Anderson (12.45), Megan Tapper (12.61), 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams (12.59) and Demisha Roswell (12.84).
Reigning Olympic Champion Hansle Parchment (13.24), Orlando Bennett (13.27), Rasheed Broadbell (13.29) and 2016 Olympic and 2017 World Champion Omar McLeod (13.36) led the qualifiers to the Men’s 110m hurdles final.
In the field, 2019 World Championship silver medalist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.79m to win her seventh national title ahead of Lloydricia Cameron (16.96m) and Danielle Sloley (15.98m).
Wayne Pinnock added to his NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles earlier this season with a personal best 8.14m to win the Men’s long jump ahead of defending World Champion Tajay Gayle (7.97m) and Shawn-D Thompson (7.88m).
Knight, 25, the fastest Jamaican woman over 400m hurdles this year, rebounded from her nasty fall at Jamaica’s national championship a week ago to win the event in 53.85. Tia’Adana Belle was the runner-up in 55.75 while Noelle Montcalm finished third in 56.67.
Dwyer, who will be travelling to the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in less than two weeks, cruised to an easy victory in the 200m. He clocked 20.45 to finish ahead of Akeem Sirleaf, who ran a season-best 20.57 for second place. The final podium spot went to Mario Heslop, who ran 20.66.
Meanwhile, in the long jump, Chanice Porter, who will also represent Jamaica at the World Championships, jumped a season-best 6.55m to win the long jump. Tifanny Flynn soared out to 6.48m for second place as Sha’ Keda Saunders (6.43m) finished third.
O’Dayne Richards threw a season-best 20.47m to finish third in the men’s shot put competition that was won by New Zealand’s Tom Walsh with a mark of 21.69m. Roger Steen throw 21.47m for second place.
Back on the track, Shockoria Wallace, ran 11.25 to win the 100m over compatriots Olympians Natasha Morrison (11.33) and Remona Burchell (11.34).
Jamaica’s 400m record holder was second in the 400m clocking 45.43 to finish ahead of compatriot Demish Gaye (45.47) in the race won by South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk in a season-best 44.58.
Tiffany James was the runner-up in the women’s race clocking 51.70. The one-lapper was won by Na ‘Asha Robinson in 51.54. Shakima Wimbley finished third in 52.22.
In the 800m, Ghana’s Alex Amankwa ran 1:45.14 to claim victory over Mexico’s Jesus Lopez (1:45.30) and Jamaica’s Rajay Hamilton (1:46.19).
