Spencer sets pace in 400m
IAAF Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer was the top performer on a fairly uneventful first day of the Supreme Ventures/JAAA National Championships at the National Stadium yesterday.
The hurdles specialist clocked the fastest time entering tomorrow’s semi-finals of the 400m flat event and looked easy in posting 50.86 seconds to win Heat Three ahead of Davita Prendergast of Racer’s, 51.47.
Spencer told the Observer she is aiming to make the 4x400m relay team at the World Championships.
“My coach told me just to go run the first 300m and I think I did that, so I’m very pleased with the time. Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll come out and do that much better. I’m expecting a personal best this year so I’m going for that,” she added.
Novlene Williams-Mills claimed Heat One in 52.07 ahead of World Champs silver medallist Shericka Williams, with Verone Chambers third in 53.39. Melaine Walker, who was listed to compete in that heat, did not show.
Former national champion Rosemarie Whyte won Heat Two in 51.98, with former Manchester High star Natoya Goule second in 52.23.
Goule, a freshman at South Plains College in the USA and in her first year at the senior level, was somewhat in awe of her fellow competitors.
“I felt different in my first year to compete with all those Olympians. It felt good,” Goule, who will also compete in the 800m, told the Observer.
The 400m was the only women’s event yesterday as there was no 100m. Organising committee head Ludlow Watts told the Observer while more than 16 athletes originally entered, it was likely some had withdrawn, making three rounds unnecessary.
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) website still lists 20 athletes down for today’s event, including world and Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, who has withdrawn from the Trials due to injury.
The line-up should feature Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, and Carrie Russell.
Meanwhile, Spencer will today face the starter in her pet event, the 400m hurdles, alongside Sheryl Morgan, Nickeisha Wilson, Shevon Stoddart and schoolgirl Ristananna Tracey.
