Bolt Wins – Asafa Fails to Qualify
Double sprint world record holder Usain Bolt and Kerron Stewart breezed through the men’s and women’s 100 metres titles at the Jamaica Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday night.
The biggest news of the day though was that former World record holder Asafa Powell failed to make the team after finishing a disappointing seventh, jogging home in 10.22.
Bolt, who picked started at the last World Championships and had to earn his spot at this summer’s championships in Moscow, won the men’s race in 9.94 seconds.
His training partner Kemar Bailey-Cole was second in 9.98, with Nickel Ashmeade coming home third in 9.99.
“It was all about getting through it injury free and that’s what I had done,” Bolt said.
Nesta Carter ran 10.14 to follow the top three runners.
In the absence of defending champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce and fellow sprint queen Veronica Campbell-Brown, Stewart, stepped up to stamp her class and won the crown in 10.96.
She sped home ahead of Sherone Simpson, who crossed the finishing line in at 11.03, Schillonie Calvert (11.07), Sheri Ann Brooks (11.14) and Carrie Russell (11.14).
“It was a good time, because I had not dipped under 11 seconds all season, but I knew it was in me,” Stewart said.
Elsewhere, Leford Green won the men’s 400m hurdles in 49.20, beating Annsert Whyte, who ran 49.30 and Isa Phillips (49.59).
Ristananna Tracey won the women’s event with 54.52 ahead of Danielle Dowie 54.94, a personal best, and Nickeisha Wilson, the same time, for third.
Francine Simpson won the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.35m over Todea-Kay Willis 6.21m and Yanique Levy 6.13m. Allison Randall threw 58.97m to take the women’s discus over schoolgirl Gleneve Grange 52.95. Wilbert Walker with 16.40m won the men’s triple jump.
Chante Roberts 4:39.37 and Ryan Lawrence 3:51.60 took the women’s and men’s 1500m titles while Kemoy Campbell missed the world qualifying 5,000m B mark with 13:43.20.
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Thanks for a good article. The championship meet over the weekend was a good one that provided entertainment in a funny kind of way to relieve us of the stress of sliding dollar and whatever else are the economic woes that beset us a people. I am sure however, that the absence of Veronica has cast a shadow over the whole event. Asafa does not seem to be getting over his ‘problems’ any time soon. There seems to be a definite problem totally unrelated to injuries.
Good post
Vinton
Thanks for a good article. The championship meet over the weekend was a good one that provided entertainment in a funny kind of way to relieve us of the stress of sliding dollar and whatever else are the economic woes that beset us a people. I am sure however, that the absence of Veronica has cast a shadow over the whole event. Asafa does not seem to be getting over his ‘problems’ any time soon. There seems to be a definite problem totally unrelated to injuries.
Good post
Vinton