AMIDST a swarm of gnats brought down by four days of intermittent rains, Sherone Simpson posted 11.12 seconds to reclaim the women’s 100 metres before an almost empty National Stadium at the JAAA National Senior Championships yesterday.

Simpson, recovering from a hamstring injury, survived a false start to capture the title she first won in 2006 ahead of Carrie Russell in 11.18 and Anneisha McLaughlin, 11.24.

“I’m just very grateful and I just pray to remain healthy and to continue running fast,” the athlete said afterward.

Russell was highly favoured to win but was happy with her result after pushing Simpson hard to the line.

“I’m pleased…,” she stated.

Jovanee Jarrett retained the title she won last year after leaping 6.44 m on her final try to capture the long jump.

Nickevea Wilson leaped 6.03m for second ahead of Ann-Marie Duffus, 6.00.

“I’m not pleased with my result, but I won, so I just have to take the win,” said Jarrett, who complained of a headwind.

St Hugh’s High schoolgirl Candicea Bernard claimed the women’s discus title with 45.03m on her penultimate attempt ahead of the only two other competitors in the field, Micara Vassell (40.17m) and Peta-Gaye Williams (31.28m).

Bernard, who also won the title at this year’s ISSA Girls Championships, told the Sunday Observer she was not totally satisfied with her performance.

“I’m feeling partly good, but at the same time it’s not my PR (48.71) and life goes on,” she said.

Bernard will have the opportunity to take the double as she is also listed to compete in the shot put this afternoon.

Local middle-distance queen Tanice Barnett secured the 1500m in a time of 4:39.96, ahead of the lone other competitor, Twishana Williams (4:44.15), and will also have a shot at the double when she lines up in the 3000m in another two-woman field.

Meanwhile, Novelene Williams-Mills advanced to the final of the women’s 400m with the fastest time after winning Semi-final Two in 50.79 seconds, ahead of Kaliese Spencer, who barely broke a sweat in clocking 51.09.

Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams posted a season’s best 50.95 in winning Semi-final One, with former national champ Rosemarie Whyte second in 51.15.

“I tried to execute my race like how I wanted to, so that’s what I went out there and did,” Williams said.

On today’s second day, the most competitive female event of the local sphere in the last five years, the women’s 100m hurdles, will be contested.

In the absence of Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London, Andrea Bliss will have the best shot and lines up in lane two of heat one alongside schoolgirl Samantha Elliott.

The women’s 200m will feature two-time 100m national champion Shelly Ann Fraser against training teammate Anneisha McLaughlin in the first semi-final. The second semi-final features Whyte.

The other women’s finals to be contested are the hammer throw, high jump, triple jump and javelin.

Meanwhile, the JAAA has re-launched its Internet website.

The site, which may be accessed by logging on to www.trackandfieldja.com, features live streaming of events and a link to the sport news of at least one local television station.