World Championships triple jump finalist Shanieka Thomas leapt to an unofficial world-leading 14.57m to win the event at the UWI Invitational Meet at the Usain Bolt track yesterday.

Povea Liadagmis of Cuba had the previous two best jumps of 14.33m and 14.56m, but Thomas, who now trains locally, showed that she would be a force to be reckoned with at the Rio Olympics in Brazil.

The 24-year-old soared past her personal best of 14.23m set last year in Costa Rica, three times with 14.30m, 14.52m and 14.57m into a headwind of 1.1m/s, and said she surprised herself.

“I am grateful as I jumped over my previous personal best three times. It’s a great accomplishment,” she told the

Jamaica Observer.

“My expectations this year is to medal at the Olympics and jump over 15m,” she added.

Meanwhile, Racers Track Club top guns Warren Weir and Yohan Blake finished first and second in heat six of the men’s 200m in 21.23 and 21.33 seconds, respectively, into a headwind of 4.2m/s.

Blake, the 2011 100m World Championships gold medallist, came off the curve slightly ahead, but Weir on the outside edged in front close home as both looked relaxed as if it was a training session. Levi Cadogan of Barbados won heat two in 21.29 and was second fastest of the six heats.

Racers’ Michael Frater, 33, a third vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), was third in heat four of the 200m in 22.24 seconds behind Jamaica College schoolboy Devaughn Baker in 21.85 seconds.

Former high school star, Jahzeel Murphy of Racers was second in heat five clocking 22.42 seconds behind Germaine Gayle of Cameron Blazers in 22.02 seconds.

Sparkle McKnight of MVP won the women’s 400m hurdles in a tight finish ahead of her teammate Nikita Tracey. McKnight won in 57.72 seconds with Tracey second with 57.77 seconds.

Ricardo Cunningham of Cameron Blazers took the men’s equivalent in 52.13 seconds ahead of Andre Peart of MVP with 53.83 seconds. Cunningham, who is known as an 800m runner, looked good for only his second attempt over the hurdles.

Cleveland Forde of Guyana posted the first overseas victory of the meet capturing the men’s 1,500m in 4:16.93 minutes. His compatriot Dwayne Johnson was second in 4:32.08 minutes. Ovell Burton (unattached) was third in 4:43.38 minutes.

The promising Leon Clarke of St Jago High school won the 800m 1:54.46 minutes ahead of Joel Jean Pierre of Santiago Track Club in 1:54.79 minutes.

Steffan Fennell of the UWI won the men’s 110 hurdles in 15.38 seconds ahead of Donald Douglas in 15.89 seconds, running into a -5.2 wind.

Akeem Kerr took the pole vault clearing 3.80m to win ahead of Dane Smith with 3.40m. Emanuel Archibald of Guyana leapt 14.73m to win the men’s triple jump ahead of Tevin Dunn of Munro College with 14.65m.

Tavia Dixon of Excelsior High captured the women’s shot put, heaving 13.58m ahead of her teammate Latifah Smith with 13.28m. Marielle Pierre of UWI St Augustine campus was third with 12.47m.