The incomparable Usain Bolt brought the house down at the inaugural JN Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium last night with a scintillating 9.88-second clocking to win the 100m, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce proved that she is back, winning in a season’s best 11.09 seconds.
Bolt, drawn between Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake, walked out of the blocks, caught the field after 50 metres and eased home to his season-best 9.88 seconds with a wind of (+1.0 m/s).
It was an awesome and ominous display by the legendary Bolt as he chases immortality at the upcoming Rio Olympics in Brazil. The effortless manner in which he dismissed the world-class field suggested that he is ready to defend his Olympic title.
But the superstar was wary of his shaky start.
“The start was horrible, because I stumbled out the blocks, but I like how I finished strong,” said Bolt.
Nickel Ashmeade was second in 9.94, the same as third-placed Yohan Blake, while Asafa Powell was fourth in 9.98 seconds. Kemar Bailey-Cole finished fifth in 10.00 seconds ahead of South African Akani Sim Bine with 10.01. Ramon Guttenberg of Barbados was seventh in 10.03 and veteran Michael Frater eighth in a decent 10.04 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce, who was bothered by a toe injury, didn’t get her usual bullet start, but had enough to hold off American World Indoor 60m champion Barbara Pierre, who was second in 11.11 (+0.6) with Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago third in 11.15 seconds.
Jamaica’s Gayon Evans and Remona Burchell were fourth and fifth with the identical 11.24 seconds clocking. American Carmelita Jeter was sixth with 11.26 seconds.
Earlier, Calabar’s 16-year-old schoolboy Christopher Taylor left it too late and was second in the men’s 400m ‘A’ race in 45.66 seconds. Despite the urging from the crowd, Taylor failed to peg back Delano Williams of Great Britain, who won in 45.50 seconds. Jonia McDonald was third in 46.01 seconds ahead of Chumaine Fitten in fourth with 46.45.
It was a most encouraging display from Taylor, who showed that he can mix it up with the big boys and will be a force at Jamaica’s Senior Championship later this month.
Things weren’t so good for another of Jamaica’s prodigies, Jaheel Hyde, as he finished seventh in the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.56 seconds and was never in the hunt. The race was won in emphatic style by American Johnny Dutch, who lowered his world-leading 48.36 to 48.10 seconds. Jamaica’s Robert Cato turned in a decent performance and was second in a season-best 48.98 seconds, which makes him the 10th fastest in the world.
The promising Natoya Goule continued her good form capturing the 800m in convincing fashion in 2:00.23 minutes ahead of the returning veteran Kenia Sinclair with 2:01.32 and American Charlene Lipsey in 2:01.43 minutes. Simoya Campbell was fourth in 2:02.32 minutes.
Jamaica’s World Championships 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson, who was a late replacement for Natasha Hastings, won the event in a season-best 50.72 seconds ahead of Christine Day, who led into the straight in 51.22 seconds. Ebony Eutsoy of the USA was third in 51.39 seconds, while fourth went to Anastasia LeRoy with 52.00.
It was a good win for Jackson, who seemed to be peaking at the right time, registering the sixth fastest time in the world behind Shaunae Miller’s 49.69 seconds.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Cedino once again had the better of Jamaica’s Javon Francis and Bralon Taplin in a growing Caribbean rivalry. Cedino showed tremendous strength and eased away for an impressive victory in 44.37 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest in the world behind Grenada’s Kirani James’ 44.08 seconds.
Taplin was second in 44.76 and Francis third in 44.81 seconds. National record holder Rusheen McDonald turned in another dismal display and was sixth with 46.21 seconds.
In one of the marquee match-ups of the night, South Africa’s Wayne Van Niekerk won the 300m in 31.03, which was just .18 seconds outside Michael Johnson’s world record of 30.85 seconds established in 2000. American Lashawn Merritt was second in 31.23 seconds with Tony McQuay third in 31.64.
The manner in which 400m world champion Van Niekirk moved away from Merritt suggested that he will be extremely difficult to beat in Rio.
Then before they crowd settled down, the far-striding Shaunae Miller of The Bahamas cruised to an impressive personal best of 22.05 seconds (0.8 m/s) and won the 200m in style. It was the third best time of the year behind Dafne Schippers’ 21.93 and Tori Bowie’s 21.99.
American Jenna Prandini was second in 22.39 ahead of Jamaica’s Audra Segree with 22.89 seconds. Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby was fourth in 22.91 seconds.
Antigua’s Miguel Francis of Racers Track Club stunned the stadium with a magnificent 19.88 seconds to win the 200m running out of lane seven with a wind of 1.2 m/s. It was by far his personal best and made him the third-fastest in the world this year behind Merritt with 19.78 and Ameer Webb with 19.85.
Jamaica’s Julian Forte, who ran a brilliant curve and led into the straight from lane three, was second in 20.18 ahead of Warren Weir in 20.32 seconds.
Jamaica’s 100m hurdles world champion Danielle WillIams had to settle for second behind American Sharika Nelvis in 12.61 (0.3 m/s) seconds. Williams, who finished late, clocked 12.77 ahead of Megan Simmonds with 12.86 seconds. American Ginnie Crawford was fourth with 12.89 seconds.
Another late replacement, David Oliver of the USA. captured the men’s 110m hurdles in a season’s best of 13.09 (0.2 m/s), which makes him the second fastest in the world behind Jamaica’s Omar McLeod with 12.98 seconds. Jamaica’s Duece Carter was second in 13.20 seconds, the third fastest by a Jamaican this season and the fifth fastest in the world.
