SHANIEKA Thomas made full use of her last chance to qualify for the IAAF World Championships later this month in Beijing, China, when she produced a personal best 14.23m (1.3m/s) to win gold in the women’s triple jump at the NACAC Senior Championships at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica, yesterday.

Thomas has thus put herself in line for a place on the Jamaican team to the World Championships.

Thomas, who had a personal best 14.15m set in 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada, surpassed the standard of 14.20m and beat the deadline for qualification which is Monday, August 10, and is set to join Kimberly Williams in the event in Beijing.

Thomas’ winning jump came on her third try after a 14.03m effort in the opening round and fouling the second jump.

Ana Jose Tima of the Dominican Republic was second with 14.21m, while American Lynnika Putts was third with 14.02m.

In the other final contested by a Jamaican, Canniggia Raynor was seventh in the men’s discus throw with a best effort of 51.11m.

Meanwhile, several Jamaicans advanced past the first round of their respective events on yesterday’s first day of the three-day championships.

Samantha Henry-Robinson is through to the final of the women’s 100m after running a season’s best 11.01 seconds (1.4m/s), the second fastest in the first round, behind Trinidad’s Michelle-Lee Ahye’s wind-aided 9.98 seconds (2.3m/s).

Shimyra Williams false-started and was disqualified in her heat.

Both Jamaican men Sheldon Mitchell with 10.09 seconds (2.7m/s) and Jason Livermore 10.01 seconds (3.0m/s) are into their final set for today.

Kerron Stewart and Jodean Williams are both in the final of the women’s 200m today. Stewart won her heat in 23.13 seconds (-0.4m/s), third fastest, while Williams ran 23.30 seconds (-0.5m/s).

Bobby-Gay Wilkins-Gooden had the third fastest time in the women’s 400m semi-finals, a season’s best 51.79 seconds, but Sonikqua Walker was 10th overall in 53.26 seconds and failed to advance.

Ricardo Chambers is also through to the men’s 400m final after his 44.93 seconds in the semi-finals, while Javere Bell failed to move forward after running 46.60 seconds.

Tyler Mason and Duece Carter both advanced in the men’s 110m hurdles. Mason clocked 13.46 seconds (1.2m/s) for second in his heat, while Carter ran 13.49 seconds (1.6m/s) for third place in his semi-final.

Both Rasheed Dwyer and Mario Forsythe advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 200m last night after good runs in the first round.

Forsythe ran a wind-aided 20.61 (3.5m/s) to win his heat, while Dwyer ran 20.68 seconds (0.8m/s).

Samantha Elliott advanced to the final of the women’s 400m hurdles after running 57.32 seconds, while Javarn Gallimore also advanced in the men’s after running 50.54 seconds.

Kimarra McDonald led the women’s 800m qualifying after running two minutes 04.42 seconds, but Samantha James was 10th overall in two minutes 09.67 seconds and will not advance.

Ricardo Cunningham advanced to the men’s 800m final after he ran one minute 52.79 seconds.