World Athletics Championships 400m hurdles finalist Roshawn Clarke led from start to finish, upstaging the reigning 400m world champion Antonio Watson to win the men’s 400m event at the Camperdown Classic at National Stadium on Saturday.

Clarke, 19, the national record holder in the 400m hurdles, representing Swept Track Club, clocked 46.05 seconds, ahead of Watson, of Racers Track Club, who finished second in 46.10s. Terry Thomas of Titans International was third in 46.97s.

“It is the fastest seasonal opener that I have ever run in my career,” Clarke said. “The aim was always to have a good season opener because last year I opened here with 47.22, and I came out here and bettered that time, so I am quite pleased about that.”

Clarke downplayed the significance of defeating the world champion, recognising Watson’s speed and credentials.

“The world champion is a very good athlete and he is very fast, so that is why he has the title,” he said. “So me beating him now is now really a big deal at the moment.”

Watson, who holds a personal best time of 44.13 in the event, attributed his defeat to poor execution of the race.

“The race wasn’t as planned, but as the saying goes, you just have to take this one and move forward,” he said. “I judged the race wrong, but this is just a stepping stone and a learning lesson for me.”

Oblique Seville of Racers, who finished fourth in the final of the men’s 100m at the World Championships last year, finished fifth overall in the 400m on Saturday in a personal best time of 47.44s.

Kerrica Hill of Elite Performance won the women’s 400m in a personal best time of 56.26s. Alliea Whitter of Ferncourt High School was second in 59.36s, while Legacy Athletics’s Serena Richards was third in 59.94s.

In other events, Javone Dunkley of Elite Performance clocked 6.65 to secure victory in the men’s 60m event. Emre Barnes, also of Elite Performance, finished second in 6.67s, while third place went to Emmanuel Archibald of Swept Track Club in 6.69s.

Kasheika Cameron completed the double for Elite Performance by winning the women’s 60m event in 6.47s. Jura Levy of Legacy Athletics was second in 7.68s, while third place went to Immaculate Conception High School’s Shevi-Anne Shim in a personal best time of 7.90s.

In the high school section, Gary Card sped to 10.88s to win the Class One Boys 100m, leading St Jago’s Raheem Pinnock (10.93) and Tremaine Hamilton of Clarendon College (10.99). Hydel’s Alliah Baker took victory in the girls’ race in 11.63s, ahead of Wolmer’s Girls’ Abigail Wolfe (12.03) and Mickayla Gardener (12.13).

Jordan Byles of Lakeridge High School in the United States secured the Class Two boys’ 100m in 10.92s, with Calabar High School’s Bryon Walker setting a personal best time of 11.03s for second place, and Jamaica College’s (JC) Malique Dennis finishing third in 11.11s. St Jago’s Briana Campbell dominated the girls’ Class Two 100m in 11.89s, leading Wolmer’s Tiana Marshall (11.98) and Hydel’s Shemonique Hazle (13.03).

Keandro Gordon of Excelsior clocked 1:55.34 minutes to win the Class One boys’ 800m event, ahead of JC’s Nellie Ambriton (1:56.22) and Tyrone Lawson (1:56.29). St Catherine’s Kitania Headley secured victory in the girls’ equivalent in 2:12.26. Aphansus Davis’s Allecia Johnson finished second in 2:16.62, while St Jago High School’s La Tanya Johnson claimed third place in 2:18.24.

JC’s Samuel Creary took home top honours in the boys’ Class Two 800m event in 1:55.93 minutes. Calabar’s Alejandro Palmer secured second place in 1:57.86, with JC’s Shemar Green claiming third in 1:58.45. Hydel’s Jenice Dunkley clocked 2:17.30 to win the Class Two girls’ 800m, leading St Jago’s Kededra Coombs (2:18.21) and Sydney Pagon’s Denae Hodges (2:20.33).