Forte blasts 10.03secs at 2nd JAAA All Comers Meet
THE promising Julian Forte of UTech became the fastest Jamaican over 100 metres this season with an impressive 10.03 seconds win at the second Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) All Comers Meet at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Forte’s time has made him the sixth fastest in the world behind American Justin Gatlin, who clocked 9.92 seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League yesterday. Simon Magakwe of South Africa with 9.98 seconds is the only other man under 10 seconds so far.
Forte, who left the block like a bullet, had a brief battle with Andrew Fisher before smoothly accelerating away from the field to win easily ahead of Oshane Bailey of AKAN in 10.20 seconds.
Fisher, who, until Saturday, was the fastest Jamaican, basically stopped at the end and finished sixth in 10.39 seconds. AKAN’s Jason Livermore was third in 10.25 seconds. Forte, Fisher, Bailey and Livermore were all selected on Jamaica’s team to the World Relays in the Bahamas this weekend.
Meanwhile, things didn’t look good for UTech’s Natasha Morrison, who was selected to Jamaica’s team to the World Relays. She fell to the ground writhing in pain in Heat Three of the women’s 100m and had to stretchered off.
The race was eventually won by Audra Segree of Sprintec in 11.44 seconds ahead of MVP’s Nadine Palmer in 11.53 with Lesline Gilzine of Racers third in 11.71 seconds.
At press time yesterday, UTech’s coach Paul Francis said he could not give an official statement on Morrison’s condition, but he was pleased that she was able to walk unassisted later on. Rusheed McDonald of UTech warmed up for the World Relays and was quickest in the men’s 400m in 45.51 seconds.
Peter Matthews of Racers was second with 46.78 and 17- year-old World Youth 400m champion Martin Manley of St Jago third in 46.87 seconds. Nicholas Maitland of Racers was fourth in 47.19 seconds.
Kingston College’s Zharnel Hughes of the High Performance Centre made a return to active competition in the men’s 200m and eased home in fifth in 20.79 seconds. Jason Livermore won that heat in 20.61 seconds, ahead of quarter-miler Edino Steele in 20.63 seconds.
Delano Williams of Racers was third in 20.65 seconds. However, Racers’ Daniel Bailey of Antigua was quickest over the distance with 20.59 seconds.
In the women’s 200m, Anastacia Leroy of Sprintec was quickest with 23.34 seconds and easily dispatched her teammate Audra Segree in second with 23.70 seconds.
UTech’s Shericka Jackson looked to be in fine fettle destroying her opponents in the women’s 400m and stopping the clock at 52.33 seconds.
World Youth 400m bronze medallist Tiffany James of Papine High ran her personal best in second with 53.21 seconds and had Balaclavia High’s Dawnalee Loney in third with 54.07 seconds.
Holmwood High’s Lisa Buchanan won the 1,500m in 4:41.03 minutes, while Darryl Oliver of UTech took the men’s version in 3:58.49 minutes. Alex Hutton of AKAN was second with 4:06.58 minutes.
MVP’s Latoya Greaves won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.47 seconds, while Ackeem Smith of MVP took the men’s 110m hurdles in 14.22 seconds.
Orrin Powell of GC Foster won the men’s javelin with a throw of 61.59m ahead of Demoy Howell of UWI with 58.03m. Zavian Richards was third with 56.84m. UWI’s Jamie-Lee Gordon won the women’s javelin with 32.36m.
Darrel Garwood leapt 2.15m to win the men’s high jump ahead of Clayton Brown of Jamaica College with 2.10m, while Tamara Moncrieffe of Holmwwod captured the women’s long jump with 5.72m
