Jamaica’s men and women prospects for medals in the 100 metres at this summer’s Olympics Games, were easy winners at the National Senior Championships at the National Stadium Thursday evening (June 24).

Leading the charge into the Friday afternoon’s semi-finals is current Olympic Games champion Elaine Thompson-Herah as well as 2012 and 2008 winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, with Shericka Jackson and Briana Williams joining them in the next round of the women’s 100 metres.

The 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist in the 100 and 200 metres, Yohan Blake was the best performer in the heats of the men’s 100 metres, with Davonte Burnett, Julian Forte and Tyquendo Tracey also winning their respective heat.
In the women’s event, Jackson will move into the semi-finals with the fastest time, as running in heat three, she was pushed by MVP Track Club teammate Natasha Morrison to a personal best.

Jackson clocked 10.91 seconds with Thompson-Herah another MVP athlete, doing the second-fastest time of 10.96 and Fraser-Pryce, who only this year switched from MVP to Elite Performance doing the next best with 10.97 seconds. Williams, from Hudson Smith International (HSI), did 11 seconds.

In winning their heats, however, both Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce cruised from approximately midway the races, while Williams eased nearing the finish line.

Blake, who suits up for Adidas, in his men’s 100 metres heat, got a good start and took the lead early before shutting down midway the distance for an easy 10.03 seconds victory, the fastest time in the four heats.

Burnett, who runs for the University of Southern California (USC) had the next best time of 10.05 seconds, to be followed by Forte from MVP with 10.08 and Tracey of Swept Track Club with 10.13. Burnett, Forte and Tracey in their respective heats, however, all ran harder than Blake.

Thursday’s major casualty on the track was Leonardo Ledgister, who finished eighth in his 400 metres hurdles semi-final. Ledgister, who has the best time this year for Jamaica and is the only athlete to attain the qualifying standard in the event, will now miss the final and will have to rely on several factors to be able to participate in the Olympic Games, which will take place in Japan.

Jaheel Hyde of Swept ran the fastest time of 49.14 seconds to win the second semi-final as Andre Clarke of Puma and Shawn Rowe of GW Express, who both competed in the first semi-final did 49.38 and 49.57 respectively.
In the only other track final on Thursday, PureLuv Running Team captured the top three spots in the men’s 5,000 metres, with Dewayne Graham winning ahead of Andrew Gutzmore and Winston Duhaney.

Graham stopped the clock at 16:06.26 minutes as Gutzmore did 18:16.58 and Duhaney 19:09.06.

The day’s only field event final, the men’s javelin was won by Elvis Graham of GC Foster College with Orlando Thomas of MVP second and Akeel Hanchard of Kingston College third.

Graham’s best throw in his six attempts was 69.99 metres as Thomas did 67.72 and Hanchard 65.79.