National Trials: Anderson and Gordon win 800m titles
KINGSTON, Jamaica— National record holder, Navasky Anderson, won the men’s 800 metres title on Sunday’s final day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships at the National Stadium but eight-time women’s champion, Natoya Goule-Topping, was beaten by new-comer Chris-Ann Gordon-Powell.
Anderson, who set the national record two weeks ago, obliged with 1:48.53 seconds for his first national title, Kimar Farquharson was second with 1:49.36 seconds and Tarees Rhoden third with 1:49.89 seconds.
All three are attending college in the USA, Anderson of Mississippi State University, was second in the NCAA Division One Outdoors championships, Farquharson attends South Plains College and Rhoden attends Clemson University.
Meanwhile, Gordon-Powell, who took up the 800m this year, ran 2:00.25 seconds as Goule took second in 2:00.83 seconds and Adelle Tracey was third in 2:01.18 seconds.
Goule is the only Jamaican with the World Championship standard of 1:59.50 seconds but Gordon-Powell has a personal best 1:59.52 seconds set earlier this month, and is ranked 27th in the world and should be at the World Championships.
Paul A Reid