Nathon Allen

Shafiqua Maloney from St Vincent and the Grenadines and Sean Bailey of Jamaica were also winners at the meet where Antigua’s Cejhae Greene and Jamaica’s Nathon Allen ran season-best times in the 100m and 400m, respectively. Kimberly Williamson also won the high jump in a new personal best performance that makes her the second best Jamaican in the world this year.

The 20-year-old Blake, who along with Oblique Seville, is one of Jamaica’s most promising prospects this year, equalled his previous personal best of 10.08 in the preliminary round to be second fastest heading into the final behind Greene who qualified with a quick 10.06.

However, Blake sped a new lifetime best in the final to finish ahead of the Antiguan, who ran 10.02 for second place. The USA’s Kendall Williams was third in a season-best 10.05.

Maloney clocked a season-best 51.84 to comfortably win the 400m ahead of the USA’s Brittany Aveny (52.22) and Canada’s Kyra Constantine (52.26) who were locked in a hard-fought battle for second place.

Bailey won the men’s race in a season-best 45.18, just edging Jamaican compatriot Allen, who finished in 45.21, also a season’s best time and Bryce Deadmon of the USA, who was third in 45.23.

In the 400m hurdles for women, Andrenette Knight became the fastest Jamaican in the world this year, clocking a personal best of 53.39 but finished second to World Champion and world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin, who blazed a new world lead of 51.61.

Gianna Woodruff of Panama was third in 54.63.

In action in the field, Williamson cleared a massive new personal best of 1.93m to win the high jump. The former Edwin Allen and Kansas State jumper was three centimetres better than the USA pair of Rachel McCoy (1.90m) and Jelena Moore (1.85m), who were second and third, respectively. 

Meanwhile, Lloydricia Cameron threw a season-best 18.01m for a second place finish in the shot put that was won by Jessica Ramsey with her best throw of 18.26m.

Haley Teel of the USA (17.31) and Portious Warren of Trinidad and Tobago (17.23), were third and fourth, respectively.

Bloomfield was an easy winner, clocking 46.20 seconds, to get the better of the United States’ Obi Igbokwe, 46.41, and Kuwait’s Yousef Karam, 46.49.

Allen, however, who is returning from an injury that stopped him from finding his way to last year’s IAAF World Championships of Athletics, found the going tough and rounded out the eight-man field in 47.89 seconds.

Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslák, 46.51, and Great Britain’s James Williams, 47.26, were the other athletes to finish ahead of Allen.

The region took home 17 medals in total including five golds, nine silvers and three bronzes with Jamaica leading the Caribbean medal count with 10 ahead of Grenada and the Dominican Republic who got two each while the Bahamas, Barbados and Puerto Rico all took home one apiece.

There were a number of standout performances throughout the 10 days starting with Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

Fraser-Pryce produced a championship record 10.67 to defend her 100m title and win her fifth in total. Fraser-Pryce also won her second 200m medal in her World Championships career, a silver in a season’s best 22.81.

Jackson ran a personal best 10.73 for silver in the 100m behind Fraser-Pryce and followed that up with one of the performances of the championships in the 200m. She produced a time of 21.45 to win her first global title and become the fastest woman alive over the distance.

Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah came third in the 100m in 10.81 to complete Jamaica's second consecutive 100m clean sweep at a major championship.

Fraser-Pryce, Jackson and Thompson-Herah then teamed up with Kemba Nelson to win silver in the 4x100m in 41.18 behind the USA (41.14).

We now move to the 400m where the Caribbean women swept the medals. Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo became the first female to complete the world event cycle (gold medals at the World Youth Championships, World Junior Championships, World Indoor Championships, World Championships and Olympics) by finally winning her maiden world title with a world-leading 49.11.

The Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino, the world leader coming into the Championships, followed up her silver medal in Tokyo last year with 49.60 to claim silver once more.

Barbados’ Sada Williams produced a brilliant personal best and national record 49.75 to take home bronze, becoming the first Barbadian woman to win a World Championship medal.

In the men’s equivalent, Grenadian superstar Kirani James ran 44.48 for silver behind American Michael Norman (44.30). This was James’ third World Championships medal and first since 2015 when he won bronze.

Paulino was also part of the brilliant quartet that took the Dominican Republic to gold in the Mixed Relay. Paulino combined with Fiordaliza Cofil, Lidio Andres Feliz and Alexander Ogando to run 3:09.82 for gold.

Staying on the track, Jamaica’s Britany Anderson followed up on the promise she’s shown all season to secure a silver medal in the 100m hurdles.

Anderson ran a new national record 12.31 in the semi-finals before running a wind-aided 12.23 to secure the silver medal behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan who clocked an astounding 12.06 for victory after running a legal world record 12.12 earlier in the semis.

Puerto Rican Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ran the same time as Anderson to take home bronze.

Jamaica picked up silver medals in both the men's and women's 4x400m relays. The men comprising of Ackeem Bloomfield, Nathon Allen, Jevaughn Powell and Christopher Taylor registered 2:58.58 to finish behind the USA (2:56.17) while the women with Candice McLeod, Janieve Russell, Stephenie Ann McPherson and Charokee Young produced 3:20.74 to finish behind the Americans (3:17.79).

In the field, Grenada’s Anderson Peters became only the second man to defend his javelin world title.

The 2022 world leader produced a best throw of 90.54m to successfully defend his title from Doha three years ago, replicating a feat only matched by Czech world record holder Jan Zelezny who won consecutive world titles in 1993 and 1995 before returning to top spot in 2001.

Peters produced an amazing series, registering 90.21m, 90.46m, 87.21m, 88.11m, 85.83m and 90.54m in his six rounds.

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts produced a season’s best 14.89m to take silver in the women’s triple jump behind Venezuelan world record holder and Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas (15.47m).

Ricketts produced jumps of 14.89m, 14.86m, 14.37m, 14.40m, 14.62m and 14.80m for one of her best series of her career.

The region will be hoping for an even better showing at the 2023 World Championships scheduled for August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.

Thompson-Herah’s time was the second-fastest in the world this season. Only the USA’s Sha’ Carri Richardson has run faster with her time of 10.72 at the Miramar South Florida Invitational last month.

It was a Jamaica 1-2-3 in the race as Natalliah Whyte clocked 11.08 for second place with Ashanti Moore third in 11.10.

The men’s 100m was won by Antigua’s Cejhae Greene who ran 10.02 to win ahead of Jamaica’s Yohan Blake who was given the same time. Incidentally, both men ran the same time, 9.98s, the preliminaries. The times were run with a trailing wind of 2.7m/s.

The wind in the final was 2.1m/s also over the allowable limit.

Devin Quinn was third in 10.03.

Nickel Ashmeade, making comeback after a couple of years out after undergoing groin surgery, was seventh in 10.11.

Meanwhile, the Women’s 200m race was won by Shawnti Jackson in 23.15s. Natasha Morrison, fresh off her personal best 10.87 in the 100m last weekend, was second in 23.21. Kristina Knott was third in 23.31.

Nathon Allen ran 46.85 for second in the 400m won by Michael Mathieu in 46.80. Musa Isah was third in 46.94.

In the women’s equivalent, Shericka Jackson was a comfortable winner in 52.01 over Kaylin Whitney 52.29. Tiffany James clocked 52.67 for third with Christine Day fourth in 53.57.

Janieve Russell won the 400m hurdles in 56.02.

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).

The Bahamian looked in splendid form in just his second race of the season, having set a national record of 32.06 over the distance three weeks ago.  The new time obliterated the previous best of 31.87 set by the USA’s Noah Lyles in 2017.

Jamaica’s Nathon Allen finished behind Gardiner in 32.54.  The result was a personal best for Allen who left the Jamaica-based MVP track club late last year to join Gardiner at Empire Athletics in Florida. 

Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Guevara won heat two in 33.49, ahead of another Bahamian Kinard Rolle who was second in 34.49.  Another Jamaica, Ronald Sayles, was second in heat 3 with a time of 34.31.  The event was won by Chance Arinze (33.42).

Puerto Rican Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the women’s event, in the process clocking 36.52 and breaking her own national record set two weeks ago.

In other events, Guyana’s Aliyah Abraham also recorded a new personal best in the women’s 400m after clocking 52.05 to win the event ahead of Diamond League champion Quanera Hayes who was second in 52.31.

Allen, 24, ran a personal best 20.45 over 200m at the Back to the Track Meet in Clermont, Florida on Saturday, eclipsing his previous best of 20.46 set in Luzern in July 2018.

The seventh-place finish did little to dampen the spirits of the former St. Jago High sprinter, who finished in the wake of 200m World Champion Noah Lyles, who won in 19.94 and 400m World Champion Stephen Gardiner who was a close second in 19.96.

“Given the circumstances around and the limited training I’m pleased,” Allen told Sportsmax.TV Tuesday, confessing that it feels good to be running fast once again.

“It’s a joy to be able to be competing with the best guys in my country and around the world and is therefore why I’m just trying to give my best each day in practice and follow my coach instructions.”

Allen won a pair of silver medals at the 2019 World Championships in Doha as a member of Jamaica’s mixed relay and 4x400m relay teams but it could have easily been different. Having turned up at the national championships to attempt to win an individual spot on the team, Allen suffered an injury on the eve of competition and was unable to compete.

So, it was a bit of a surprise to many when he was chosen to fly with the team to Doha where he duly rewarded the faith of the selectors.

The pandemic presented a new set of challenges in 2020 because while the nationwide lockdown in the United States prevented athletes from competing, it gave Allen a chance to continue healing and strengthen his body.

“At one point we were unable to train when things got really bad, then we started doing basic training on our own just trying to keep as fit as possible as we could in that time,” he said. “And we got ran off tracks a few times but otherwise coach tried his best to find someplace where we could at least do some drills for that day.”

It seems to have paid off because after opening up his outdoor season with a 46.50 over 400m in Marietta, Georgia on July 11, he returned to the track on Saturday and left with a new 200m PB.

The team, who is in a rebuilding phase after dominating men’s track and field for almost a decade, finished in a three-way tie for fifth on the table with 20 points. Eight points are accumulated for first place and a point for eighth.

Hosts USA, thanks to standout performances from the likes of Noah Lyles, Michael Norman and Fred Kerley to name a few, absolutely dominated the Championships and finished at the top of the table with 118 points.

The rest of the top ten was rounded out by Kenya (46), Great Britain (28), Canada (24), Jamaica (20), Ethiopia (20), Uganda (20), Norway (17), Spain (17) and South Africa (12).

Jamaica’s only medal came in the 4x400m where the team of Akeem Bloomfield, Jevaughn Powell, Nathon Allen and Christopher Taylor ran 2:58.58 for silver behind the USA.

They also finished just outside the medals in the 4x100m where Akeem Blake, Oblique Seville, Yohan Blake and Jelani Walker combined to run 38.06 to finish behind Canada (37.48), USA (37.55) and Great Britain (37.83).

Individually, Seville had the best performance finishing fourth in the 100m in 9.97 behind the American trio of Fred Kerley (9.86), Marvin Bracy (9.88) and Trayvon Bromell (9.88).

Jamaica’s other two individual finalists to place in the top eight were Jaheel Hyde who finished sixth in the 400m Hurdles and Christopher Taylor who finished seventh in the 400m.

However, it was a bittersweet morning session for the Caribbean quarter-milers as Jamaican champion Juvaughn Powell and Dwight St Hillaire of Trinidad and Tobago both crashed out finishing fourth and sixth, respectively in their respective heats. Their times were not good enough to be among the six fastest losers who advance.

With the top three finishers in each heat automatically qualifying for the next round, James, the fastest qualifier from the Caribbean, finished second in 45.29 with Allen in third in 45.61 in the penultimate of the six heats that was won by Botswana’s Boyapo Ndori in a personal best 44.87.

Taylor was also second in his heat, running 45.68, to finish behind gold-medal favourite Michael Norman who cruised to 45.37.

Jones took second in the opening heat won by world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk in 45.18. The Barbadian, who ran impressively during the NCAA season, ran 45.46 to be among the automatic qualifiers.

Also advancing was Mixed Relay gold medallist Lidio Andres Feliz from the Dominican Republic, who was third in the final heat in 45.87.

Running in rainy conditions, Powell, a finalist at the NCAA Championships earlier in June, produced a late burst in the final 50 metres of the race to produce 45.50 to win ahead of Nathon Allen (45.64) and Anthony Cox (45.65).

McLeod, a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics last year, produced a strong season’s best of 50.29 to win ahead of Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.49) and Charokee Young (50.76).

There was an upset in the Women’s 800m as eight-time national champion Natoya Goule ran 2:00.83 for second behind Chrisann Gordon-Powell (2:00.35). Adelle Tracey ran 2:01.18 for third.

National record holder and NCAA Championships silver medallist Navasky Anderson ran 1:48.53 to win his first national title ahead of Kimar Farquharson (1:49.36) and Tarees Rhoden (1:49.89).

Christopher Taylor and Nathon Allen also advanced to the men’s final after the completion of their 400m heat

Miller-Uibo, the 2022 400m world champion, was a comfortable winner in the opening heat clocking 50.84 to finish ahead of Jamaica’s Stephenie-Ann McPherson, who ran a comfortable 51.65. Canada’s Kyra Constantine is also through to the final when she finished third in the opening heat in 51.93. Gabrielle Scott of Puerto Rico was the fourth qualifier having finished fourth in 52.22.

Meanwhile, Williams, who after winning the bronze medal in the 400m at the world championships in a personal best of 49.75 and then claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, cantered to a time of 51.48 to win heat two ahead of Cuba’s Calderon Roxana Gomez who crossed the finish line in 51.57.

Canada’s Natasha McDonald finished third in 51.65 just ahead of Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield, whose time of 51.75 also saw her advance to the final as a non-automatic qualifier.

Among the men, Taylor was fastest into the final having run 45.50 to win the second of the two heats.

Also through from that heat were Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Guevara (47.08) and Aymeric Fermley of Guadeloupe (47.24).

All the other finalists advanced from the opening heat that was won by Allen in 45.85. Bryce Deadmon of the USA (46.63) also advanced along with Kinard Rolle of the Bahamas (47.86).

Allan LaCroix of Guadeloupe (48.27) and Cuba’s Rodriquez Reneil Pintado (49.22) also advanced as non-automatic qualifiers.

In the men’s long jump, 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle and Shawn-D Thompson, who just missed out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games with a season’s best 8.05m, both advanced from the preliminary round of the long jump with marks of 7.83m and 7.76m, respectively.

Also advancing were Tristan James of Dominica (7.47m) and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Laquan Nairn of The Bahamas  (7.43m).

Aided by a wind of 2.5m/s, Anderson, in her first world championships final, ran a fast 12.23 to finish in second place behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who clocked a ridiculously fast 12.06 to win the gold medal.

Amusan, who is coached by Jamaican Olympian Lacena Golding-Clarke, shattered the USA’s Kendra Harrison’s world record of 12.20 in the semi-final when she clocked a stunning 12.12s.

Harrison was second in the heat with a season-best 12.27 but the American was unable to handle the pace in the final and was subsequently disqualified after hitting a number of hurdles.

Anderson, meanwhile, broke Danielle Williams’ national record of 12.32 set in 2019, when she won her semi-final heat in 12.31 while holding off the Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who clocked 12.32.

Both women shared the time of 12.23 in the finals but Anderson was 0.005 seconds faster and hence awarded the runner-up spot.

Alia Armstrong of the USA was fourth in 12.38 while Cindy Sember who ran a new British record of 12.50 in the semis, clocked 12.41 for fifth.

Danielle Williams ran 12.44 for sixth with Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas running 12.53 for seventh.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s men picked up their first medal of the championships when they finished second in the 4x400m relay. The USA won the gold medal in a world-leading 2:56.17 but the Jamaican quartet of Ackeem Bloomfield, Nathon Allen, Jevaughn Powell and Christopher Taylor – spared blushes for their male counterparts with a season-best 2:58.58.

Allen ran the fastest split on the second leg, 43.95 while Taylor completed the anchor leg in an impressive 43.98.

Belgium finished third in 2:58.72.

Jamaica’s women closed the championships with the third silver-medalist on the final day when they finished runner-up to gold medal favourites, the USA which ran a world-leading time of 3:17.79.

The Jamaican quartet of Candice McLeod, Janieve Russell, Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Charokee Young, clocked a season-best 3:20.74.

Great Britain was third in 3:22.64.

Jamaica won 10 medals at the championships - two gold, seven silver and a bronze medal.

Ricketts, who got silver four years ago, won with a Commonwealth Games record 14.94m which she did in the first round.

Dominica’s Thea Lafond made it a Caribbean 1-2 by taking the silver with 14.39m ahead of England’s Naomi Metzger (14.37m).

Elaine Thompson-Herah will get an opportunity to win her second gold medal after advancing to the final of the Women’s 200m.

The double Olympic champion, who ran 10.95 to win the 100m on Wednesday, cruised to 22.63 to win semi-final three and advance to Saturday’s final.

Her Jamaican teammate Natalliah Whyte will also be in the final after running 23.09 to finish second in semi-final one.

On the Men’s side, Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards will get an opportunity to defend his title from 2018 after running 20.40 to win semi-final three and advance.

In the 400m, Barbadian World Championships bronze medallist Sada Williams will be in the final after running 51.59 to win semi-final two. Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield also advanced from that race as a fastest loser courtesy of a 52.18 effort to finish fourth.

Jonathan Jones ran 45.82 to win semi-final two and advance on the Men's side. Joining him in the final will be Jamaica's Anthony Cox who ran 45.98 for third in semi-final one and nathon Allen who was second in semi-final three with 45.99. 

Jackson, who recently ran a new lifetime best of 10.71 at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco, which makes her the sixth fastest woman in history, is down to run the 100m along with Commonwealth Games 200m finalist Natalliah Whyte. Emerging sprinters Ackeem Blake and Conroy Jones will gain valuable experience in the blue ribbon sprint for the men.

 Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper and Crystal Morrison will compete in the 100m hurdles while Orlando Bennett will join Broadbell for the 110m hurdles.

Taylor and Nathon Allen are set to represent the island in the 400m while Jamaica’s 200m champion Andrew Hudson gets his first opportunity to wear national colours since his transfer of allegiance. He and Jazeel Murphy will contest the 200m.

Adelle Tracey, who missed out on the Commonwealth Games, will compete in the 800m while Commonwealth Games medallists Shian Salmon and Janieve Russell will compete over the 400m hurdles. Andrenette Knight, who fell while leading at Jamaica’s national championships in June, is listed as an alternate.

Shawn Rowe will compete in the men’s event.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kimberly Williamson and Lushane Wilson will take on NACAC’s best in the high jump.

Chanice Porter will be Jamaica’s lone female in the long jump while Tahjay Gayle, who has been returning to good health and form will be in tandem with Shawn-D Thompson for the men’s event.

Jamaica will send it’s very best in the triple jump in the form of Shanieka Ricketts, the World Championships silver medallist and Commonwealth Games champion.

Lloydrecia Cameron and O’Dayne Richards will throw the shot put while Samantha Hall, Federic Dacres and Traves Smikle will throw the discus.

Elvis Graham takes on the field in the javelin.

The relay pool for the Men’s 4x100m includes Ackeem Blake, Andrew Hudson, Oshane Bailey, Kadrian Gordon, Conroy Jones and Jazeel Murphy. The Women’s pool will have Megan Tapper, Natasha Morrison, Natalliah Whyte, Ashley Williams, Roneisha McGregor and Crystal Morrison.

Nathon Allen, Christopher Taylor, Javon Francis, Karayme Bartley, Demish Gaye and Shawn Rowe make up the 4x400m pool while the women’s squad includes Junelle Bromfield, Roneisha McGregor, Ashley Williams, Shian Salmon and Andrenette Knight.

Parchment sped to a season’s best mark 13.15 for victory in the Men’s 110m hurdles ahead of the USA's current world leader Devon Allen (13.20) and Jamal Britt (13.30).

The Women’s 100m hurdles was won by the USA’s Alaysha Johnson in 12.50 ahead of Puerto Rican Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.52) and Jamaican 2015 World champion Danielle Williams (12.67).

Double Olympic sprint champion Thompson-Herah cruised to victory in the Women’s 100m in 10.93 ahead of Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Ahye (11.06) and the USA’s Shania Collins (11.08).

Bahamian reigning Olympic and World 400m champion Steven Gardiner won the Men’s 300m in 31.52 ahead of the USA’s Vernon Norwood (31.81) and Jamaica’s Nathon Allen (32.04).

2011 World and 2012 Olympic 400m champion Kirani James of Grenada was victorious in the Men’s one-lap event in a season’s best 44.70 ahead of Jamaica’s Sean Bailey (45.42) and the USA’s Trevor Stewart (45.50).

Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield was third in the Women’s equivalent in 51.82 behind Americans Gabby Scott (51.42) and Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu (50.42).

Moving to the 400m hurdles, Jamaica’s Janieve Russell ran a season’s best 54.09 to win ahead of teammates Shiann Salmon (54.43) and Rushell Clayton (54.90).

In the field, Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas was victorious in the Men’s high jump with 2.22m ahead of the USA’s Jeron Robinson (2.17m) and Puerto Rico’s Luis Castro Rivera (2.17m).

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.