MVP Track club teammates Shericka Jackson and Julian Forte will have the best times going into the final of the 200 metres on Sunday (June 27), after capturing their respective semi-finals in the National Senior Championships at the National Stadium the day prior.

The 200 metres was the top track event on Saturday, with the semi-finals in the 400 metres and sprint hurdles also being contested. It sets the stage for an exciting final day on Sunday, which will end four days of competitive action.

The National Championships is being used as the main criteria to select Jamaica’s athletes that will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games, which starts on July 23 and ends on August 8.

In the women’s 200 metres, Jackson will enter the final with a time of 22.28 seconds with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Elite Performance having the second fastest time of 22.40 and Elaine Thompson-Herah the next best with 22.90.

All three won their respective semi-finals heats easily as they all entered the straightaway in the lead. Jackson, however, ran harder than Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah, who both cruised to the finish line with a comfortable lead.

The others to contest the final are Ashanti Moore (22.86), Natasha Morrison (23.08), Briana Williams (23.48), Natalliah Whyte (23.15) and Kevona Davis (23.20).

Similarly, the men’s 200 metres semi-finals heats winners, Forte, Yohan Blake and Tyquendo Tracey took control of their events from the curve, before cutting their pace considerably and doing enough to win.

Forte clocked 20.22 seconds with Blake ending with the second-fastest time of 20.29 and Tracey 20.38. Tracey and Forte ran more difficult races than Blake.

The other qualifiers for the final are Rasheed Dwyer (20.20), Nigel Ellis (20.41), Romario Williams (20.76), Jevaughn Minzie (20.43) and Petersfield schoolboy Antonio Watson (20.53).

Meanwhile, in the men’s 110 metres hurdles, Olympic Games champion Omar McLeod had to work hard to win his semi-finals as he was pressed by Ronald Levy in the first of two heats. McLeod held on for victory after the duel.

McLeod covered the distance in a time of 13.04 seconds to be the fastest qualifier for the final, with  Levy clocking 13.08. Hansle Parchment, who got a slow start but recovered well, won the other heat in 13.19.

The final is completed by Phillip Lemonius (13.21), Damion Thomas (13.27), Orlando Bennett (13.49), Andrew Riley (13.65) and Jordani Woodley (13.89).