‘A DECENT RACE’

OLYMPIC SILVER medallist Kishane Thompson was out of the blocks like a bullet, suggesting he got some things right at the Racers Grand Prix inside the National Stadium on Saturday night — and he thinks so, too.

“Today, I put together a decent race,” said Thompson, who registered a season’s best 9.88 seconds in zero wind to win the 100 metres ahead of Jamaican teammate Oblique Seville.

Still, Thompson, who was registering the fourth-fastest time in the world this year, is asking for patience as he strives to become the best version of himself.

“I went through my phases as best as I could, and I’m super grateful for finishing injury-free. I want everyone to be patient because great things are going to happen.”

The powerfully built sprinter’s time follows that of the United States’ Trayvon Bromell, who clocked 9.84 in Rome on Friday, and teammate Kenneth Bednrek, whose 9.86 done at the Grand Slam Track meeting in Philadelphia last week puts him tied for second with Ghanaian Abdul-Rasheed Saminu.

Thompson, drawn in lane four of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting, reacted quickly to the starter’s gun and pulled away from the field at the midway mark. Seville, who was unusually slow out of the blocks in lane two, finished with a flourish to clinch second place in another season’s best of 9.97.

Seville finished ahead of the South African pair of Gift Leotlela (10.04) and world U20 champion Bayanda Walaza (10.06).

Seville, last year’s winner, was also satisfied with his performance.

“I am pleased with dipping under 10 seconds because I had to run conservatively due to a niggle that I picked up in the Atlanta City Games,” he said.

“Tonight’s run has given me the confidence that I will do well at the National Senior Championships in three weeks’ time.”

In the women’s equivalent, two-time world U20 champion Tina Clayton ran a season’s best of 10.98 (1.8m/s) to defeat the United States’ Jacious Sears (11.04).

But there was a worry for Tina’s sister Tia, who looked set to grab any of the three podium spots but grimaced and seemed to slow on her way to fifth in 11.25.

Alana Reid was third in 11.16, while 100-metre hurdles world record holder Tobi Amusan, who now trains in Jamaica with Racers Track Club, was fourth in 11.18.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Olympic bronze medallist Rasheed Broadbell defeated the red-hot US athlete Trey Cunningham in a tight contest – 13.06 to 13.08 (0.7m/s). It was Broadbell’s third win against Cunningham in five meetings.

“Each time I compete, I get better and better. Tonight, my execution was clean; my aim was to be in front after the first six hurdles, and once I achieve that, I will not be caught,” said Broadbell, who set a meeting record.

The US’s Alia Armstrong clocked 12.54 (1.1m/s) to equal the meeting record in the women’s 100m hurdles. Following in Armstrong’s wake was world indoor champion Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas in a season’s best 12.65.

The men’s 200m was one of the most highly anticipated events on the night, and it almost lived up to its billing. Jamaican champion Bryan Levell solidified his growing reputation with a scintillating run, bursting the tape at 19.79. However, the celebrations from the 15,000 spectators were muted when the wind reading of 2.5m/s appeared on the scoreboard. Levell’s compatriot, Christopher Taylor, returning from a two-year suspension, came through for second place in 20.39.

World champion Shericka Jackson won the women’s 200m in a season’s best of 22.53 (1.0m/s).

Returning from a serious-looking injury suffered a month ago at the Miami Grand Slam Track meeting, Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke showed no signs of discomfort as he triumphed in the 400m hurdles in 48.65. The world U20 record holder had to withstand a late surge in the home straight from his compatriot Assinie Wilson, who clocked 48.77.

US’s world indoor champion Christopher Bailey continued his love affair with Jamaica’s stadium track, winning the 400m in 44.74. Bailey dragged Jamaica’s Delano Kennedy to a 45.22 personal best.

“I felt a little sloppier than normal at the start, but I knew I could rely on my finish. I have a great finish, and I was happy to go sub-45 here again,” said Bailey, who opened his outdoor season in Kingston in April with an impressive 44.34 clocking. His compatriot Lynna Irby-Jackson made it a US sweep of the 400m when she ran a season’s best of 50.23 to deny Jamaica’s Stacy-Ann Williams (50.56).

Earlier in the night, world and Olympic silver medallist Wayne Pinnock scored his first long jump win of the year, cutting the sand at 7.97m in the third round.