Asafa, Fraser cop 200m
Asafa Powell won his second 200m national title last night after cruising to an easy-looking 19.97 seconds on yesterday’s second and final day of he JAAA Supreme Ventures National Senior Trials at the National Stadium.
His time, a season-best was the fifth fastest time of the year so far, trailing compatriot Usain Bolt and American Walter Dix.
Running out of lane six after winning the first round heat in 21.11 seconds, Powell came off the curve in front and was never threatened.
Powell last won the half-lap race in 2006.
Lanceford Spence was second in 20.63 seconds, well behind Powell, while Rasheed Dwyer was third in 20.65 seconds.
Former IAAF World Youth Champion Ramone McKenzie, running at the National Stadium for the first time since Boys’ Champs last year, failed to get past the first round after running 21.56 seconds in his heat, beaten by Orlando Hines.
The second and final day of the meet was devoid of atmosphere and saw long breaks in between events, forcing the handful of spectators who turned up to find ways to fill the gaps.
Heavy afternoon rains just after the scheduled 3:30 pm start also left the track wet which affected the athletes in the throwing events.
Oshane Bailey, who left Calabar last year, created the biggest upset of the meet when he nipped Olympic and World Championships relay gold medallist Michael Frater on the line to win the 100m title.
Bailey, who turns 21 later this year, was drawn in lane eight and came from about third place in the final 25 metres to set a big new personal best of 10.14 seconds as Frater clocked 10.16 seconds and Kemmari Roach was third in 10.23 seconds.
Twenty-seven-year-old Oral Thompson of Swept TC won his first national title, coming from fourth place with less than 50 metres to go to edge Ricardo Chambers on the line in the 400m.
Thompson clocked 45.79 seconds, Chambers finished in 45.87 seconds, while Allodin Fothergill took the bronze in 45.91 seconds.
Aldwyn Sappleton retained his 800m title, leading from start to finish in 1:47.82 minutes. Ricardo Cunningham was second in 1:49.58 with Saturday’s 1500m champion Shawn Pitter third in 1:50.05.
Jason Morgan won back-to-back discus titles after a best throw of 57.86m. Morgan, the National Record holder with 62.95m and season-best of 60.95m set in April, has designs on competing at the Central American and Caribbean Games in July and the Commonwealth Games in October.
Eric Keddo took the 110m hurdles final, leading all the way to win in 13.65 seconds as Hansel Parchment just edged Lorne Campbell on the line for the silver in 14.0 seconds to 14.12 seconds.
Ramon Cooper won the long jump with 7.39m, beating Kemardo Tyrel- 7.21m and Gerald Bascoe- 7.18m.
In women’s compeition, Novelene Williams-Mills put on a workmanlike show as she clocked the second fastest time of the year (50.12secs) to retain the women’s 400m title.
In easily the most competitive race of the championships, Williams-Mills pounded away at the track, leading from the 150-m mark as she sprinted her way to her third title in four years.
Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams was 20m behind in 51.12 with her MVP teammate Kaliese Spencer third in 51.24.
Williams complained of the confusion before the start of the race when there was a change of lanes between Stephenie McPherson and Anastasia Leroy with McPherson being moved from lane two to lane seven. She later false started and was disqualified.
World and Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser posted 22.49 seconds for the win in the 200m ahead of MVP teammate Anneisha McLaughlin (22.98) and Samantha Henry (23.33).
Indira Spence was the best of the second-string 100m hurdles field clocking 13.05 seconds for victory ahead of pre-race favourite Andrea Bliss (13.17) and Toni-Ann Doyley (13.30).
Zara Northover, who spoke of having two surgeries since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, threw 16.07m to win the shot put with Nadia Alexander second with 15.38m.
Also in the field, Natalie Grant claimed the women’s hammer throw with 58.09m ahead of Kenisha Throughsingh with 44.65m, while the javelin went to Kateema Riettie with 49.58m ahead of Tammilee Kerr with 45.61m and Natasha Grant 40.06m.
Kimberly Williams leapt 13.84m to win the triple jump with Melissa Ogbourne second with 13.07 and Jhanelle McLeod third with 12.42m.
Sheree Francis won the high jump, clearing a national record equaling 1.90m ahead of Peaches Roach who had a best mark of 1.80m.
Francis made an attempt at a new national record but could not clear the bar at 1.94m, but slipped on the final attempt on a Mondo surface still damp after hours of rain.
Tanice Barnett missed her shot to add the 3000m to her 1500m title after the event was scrapped when the only other athlete listed to compete did not show up for the final.
In a depleted field missing the World and Olympic champion, Melaine Walker, Nickeisha Wilson claimed the women’s 400m hurdles on Saturday night in a time of 57.09 seconds ahead of schoolgirl Nikita Tracey (58.24) and Verone Chambers (1:00.17).