KINGSTON, Jamaica — Natoya Goule and Jowayne Hibbert successfully defended their national titles in the women’s and men’s 800 metre, respectively, on day three of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) National Senior Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Goule of Adidas won the event in commanding fashion, as she dictated the pace from the start, before pulling away from the field to win in 2:00.23 minutes.

Former National Champion Kenia Sinclair, running unattached, was second in 2:01.11 minutes and Samoya Campbell (2:02.89) of the University of Technology (UTech) was third.

All three women had already met the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:01.50 minutes, but both Goule and Sinclair once again went below

that standard on the day.

On the men’s side, Hibbert of Pelican Track Club won in 1:47.59 minutes, ahead of Sadiki White (1:47.66), running unattached, and Strymar Livingston (1:47.93) of the University of the West Indies (UWI). All three athletes failed to make the Olympic standard time of 1:46.00 minutes.

Sherdon Cowan