Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson sizzled to an impressive, yet wind-aided 10.71-second clocking to win the 100m, as wins by crowd favourite Asafa Powell, Kemar Bailey-Cole, and Javon Francis highlighted the 13th staging of the Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium last evening.

Thompson, who announced herself to the world last year at this meet, was awesome as she moved impressively away from a quality field to win in 10.71 seconds, then pumped the air in jubilation after learning of her time. But her joy was dampened following the announcement of a tailwind of 2.4 metres per second which was over the allowable mark, of 2.0 mps, thus rendering her time unofficial.

English Gardener of the United States of America was second in 10.85, ahead of Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago with 10.98 seconds. American Jenna Prandini was fourth in 11.08 seconds.

Bailey-Cole, who was injured just before the World Championships in Beijing last year, stunned a top-class field in winning in 10.01 seconds just ahead of the diminutive Mike Rodgers of the USA in 10.03. Jamaica’s Julian Forte was third from lane one in 10.06, ahead of Andrew Fisher with 10.07.

American 2007 World champion Tyson Gay was fifth in 10.08, as six runners dipped for the line with 40-year-old veteran Kim Collins of St Kitts stopping the clock at 10.08. Jamaica’s Oshane Bailey was seventh in 10.13 seconds.

Gay, despite his rivalry with Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, was well accepted by the Jamaican crowd, which gave him a rousing reception, and fans in the bleachers flocked to him for photo ops and autographs.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s double Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce did not show for the 200m, which was won by Shaunae Miller of The Bahamas in 22.14 seconds, with a tailwind of 2.2 mps. Annesha McLaughlin-Whilby was second with 22.79 ahead of American Shalanda Solomon (22.80). Jamaica’s World Championships 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson was fourth from lane two in 22.86 seconds.

Powell, who remains the darling of the track for the Jamaican fans, won the 200m in 20.45 seconds ahead of Bejee Lee of the USA in 20.52, and Jamaica’s 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Dwyer, also in 20.52 seconds.

Powell, running from lane six, got a brilliant start and led coming off the curve, but had enough to hold on despite his head bobbing as he begged for the finish line. It was a rare venture over the distance for Powell who has a personal best of 19.90 seconds done in 2006.

He too was mobbed by the screaming fans as he approached the bleachers. Fans climbed onto the fence to greet their local hero.

In the last event of the evening, rising quarter-miler Francis turned in a sublime performance to win the 400m in 44.85 seconds, a most welcome indication that he’s heading in the right direction.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Janieve Russell of the University of Technology (UTech) ran a measured race to win the women’s 400m hurdles in a personal best of 54.61 seconds. Ristananna Tracey was second in 55.31, with the fast-starting American Leah Nugent relegated into third with 56.24 seconds. Russell’s time was also the second best time in the world behind Great Britain’s Eilidh Doyle with 54.53 seconds done on Friday at the Doha Diamond League meet.

Then minutes later, Jamaican prodigy Jaheel Hyde clocked 49.16 seconds to finish second in the Men’s 400m hurdles behind the imposing Jeffrey Gibson of The Bahamas in 48.96, the third best time this year. American 2005 World champion Bershawn Jackson was third with 49.29 seconds, and Jamaica’s Roxbert Cato fourth in 49.32 seconds.

It was a most encouraging display by Hyde, the 2014 World Junior champion, as he went out fast from lane seven and was up on the shoulders of American Michael Stiger, held his form well and showed enough strength in the straight and was just outside his personal best of 49.01 seconds.

American Alexa Efraemson established a new meet record of 4:08.37 minutes to win the women’s 1,500 metres ahead of her compatriots Leah O’Connor with 4:11.45 and Dana Mecke in 4:17.09 minutes. Jamaica’s Kenia Sinclair was fourth with 4:17.13.

Wesley Vasquez of Puerto Rico won the men’s 800m in 1:46.15 minutes following a blistering pace-setting run from Jamaica’s Ricardo Cunningham, who dropped out after 500m. Second went to Rofith Rodriquez of Colombia in 1:46.67 minutes. American Mike Ruth was third in 1:47.20.

Earlier in the Men’s 100 Development race, former Jamaican athlete Kemarley Brown, now of Bahrain, won in a decent 10.03 seconds, accelerating away from the field in the last 30 metres. Jermaine Hamilton, who led off Jamaica’s successful 4x100m team at the recent Penn Relays, was second in 10.30 ahead of Chadric Hinds in 10.32 seconds. Emmanuel Callendar of Trinidad and Tobago was fourth in 10.41 seconds.

The emerging Demish Gaye of GC Foster, who won the intercollegiate title, captured the men’s development 400m in 45.61 seconds. Javere Bell, who led for 370m, was second in 46.04, with Iba Anne Mame of France third in 46.68 seconds.