Walker’s world-leading run signals coming into form
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Defending IAAF World Championships gold medallist Melaine Walker signalled that she is rounding into form after running a world-leading and season-best 54.09 seconds to win the 400m hurdles event at the Brazil Grand Prix meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.
In her third race of the year, Walker the World and Olympic champion replaced compatriot and MVP club training partner Kaliese Spencer (54.20 seconds) at the top of the IAAF performance list.
Walker, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, had earlier run 54.96 seconds at a Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China and 55.60 seconds at the Jamaica National Jamaica International Invitational.
Another Jamaican Nickesha Wilson was second on Thursday with a season-best 55.57 seconds.
Kimmani Roach bounced back from his false start in the previous meeting in Sao Paulo to place second in the men’s 100m in 10.26 seconds, behind Great Britain’s Dwayne Chambers (10.05 seconds), who won all three races he contested in the South American country.
Double IAAF World Junior Champions Dexter Lee was a close fourth in 10.28 seconds behind Trinidad’s Keston Bledman (10.27).
World Championships finalist Simone Facey was fourth in the 200m in 23.43 seconds, while Alain Bailey was seventh in the men’s long jump with 7.14m after arriving in Rio the day before after two days of travelling.
The former Kingston College and University of Arkansas athlete had failed to post a legal jump in his previous meet, three weeks ago in Puerto Rico.