3 months ago
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JAMAICAN SPRINT hurdler Ackera Nugent became the second Jamaican to win a Grand Slam Track (GST) title as she took home the women’s short hurdles race group title by amassing 18 points across her two events at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miami, Florida yesterday.
Nugent’s blistering pace saw her crossing the line first yesterday in the 100 metres, clocking a personal best-equalling time of 11.09 seconds to go along with her third-place finish in the 100 hurdles on Friday night..
Jamaica’s Megan Tapper was second in a time of 11.33, with the United States’ Kendra Harrison third in 11.35.
Nugent narrowly edged Masai Russell (17 points), who won the sprint hurdles on Friday night.
Tapper rounded off the top three in the standings with 12 points.
It is the second consecutive time a Jamaican has won the women’s short hurdles race group, with Danielle Williams laying claim to the title in Kingston last month.
Nugent said she was determined to win the grand prize as a belated birthday present, having celebrated her 23rd birthday on Tuesday.
“Between Kingston and now, I got more outdoor training because I came from China just a week before and I was able to come out here and put it together,” she said after the race.
“I didn’t get what I wanted in the hurdles but I just know that I just needed to stay focused because I told myself I needed the $100k for 23.”
The Jamaican duo of Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake opened their marks in the men’s short sprints race group by placing second and third, respectively.
In a wind-aided race, Seville posted 9.84 seconds, just ahead of Blake in 9.85. The United States’ Kenny Bednarek took the event in a speedy 9.79.
The race was Bednarek’s third successive win at the GST, and he remains unbeaten in the group.
In similar vein, the United States’ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone remained unbeaten in the GST, as she won the women’s 400-metre hurdles in a new world lead of 52.07.
She got the better of Jamaican Andrenette Knight, who posted a season’s best 54.08 for second place.
Shiann Salmon, the other Jamaican in the field, clocked a season’s best 54.62 to take fourth.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards was another Miami Grand Slam title winner on the day, taking home the men’s long sprints crown after an inspired run in the 400m.
Richards finished second in 44.32m behind the US’ Jacory Patterson, who clocked a world-leading 43.98.
However, Richards’ second-place finish was enough for him to hold on to the overall lead as he amassed 20 points to top the race group standings.
The final day of action continues today with eight events, with a Grand Slam winner to be crowned after each.
English (US) ·