1 week ago
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JONIELLE Smith created a major upset in the women’s 100 metres final on yesterday’s opening day of the NACAC Senior Championships in Freeport, Bahamas, to give Jamaica their fourth gold medal.
Smith, who advanced to the final as the fourth-fastest qualifier after clocking 11.21 seconds for second in her heat, stepped up big time in the final to win in 11.05 (+0.1mps). Lirayl Alonso Teseda of the Dominican Republic was second in 11.10, with third going to Anthaya Charlton of The Bahamas in 11.12.
Jamaica’s Jodean Williams, after running a personal best of 11.00 seconds to be the fastest qualifier going into the final, had to settle for fourth in 11.13.
In the men’s 100m final, Ryiem Forde picked up silver for Jamaica after finishing in 10.01. Favourite Jerome Blake of Canada won in a championship record 9.95 (+0.4mps) breaking Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake’s 2022 mark of 9.98. Rikkol Braithwaite of the British Virgin Islands was third in 10.15.
Jamaica ended the day with seven medals – four gold, one silver, and two bronze.
The other gold medallists were hurdlers Amoi Brown and Demario Prince and discus thrower Fedrick Dacres.
Brown, the fastest qualifier for the finals after winning her heat earlier in the day in 12.80 seconds, was an easy winner in the final, clocking 12.83 (-0.1mps).Tatiana Aholou of Canada was second in 13.01 with Assia Lourencin of St Lucia third in 13.04. Jamaica’s Yanique Thompson finished fifth in 13.19.
It was a close win for Prince in the 110m hurdles after clocking 13.35 (-1.4), just edging Dylan Beard (13.39) of the United States. Jamaica’s Jaheim Stern was third in 13.63.
Dacres won the men’s discus with a throw of 65.10m, ahead of American Sam Mathis (64.06m). Chad Wright of Jamaica claimed bronze with 62.85m. Dacres is yet to attain the qualifying standard of 67.50m for the Tokyo World Championships.
Sanique Walker was one of the standout Jamaicans in the morning session as in the preliminary round of the women’s 400m hurdles, she produced a big personal best of 54.20 seconds, improving on her previous best of 55.30 to win her heat and advance to today’s final as the fastest qualifier. Teammate Janieve Russell finished fourth in her heat in 56.80 to advance to the final as the eighth-fastest qualifier.
Both Malik James-King and Assinie Wilson have advanced to the men’s 400m final. King was sixth in his heat in 49.69 and sixth overall, while Wilson was seventh in his heat in 50.31 to advance ninth overall.
National champion Nickisha Pryce won her heat of the women’s 400m in 50.39 – the only sub-51 seconds time of the day – to advance to tomorrow’s final as the fastest qualifier. Dejanea Oakley was fifth in her heat in 52.10 and did not advance.
Both Rusheen McDonald and Delano Kennedy will be chasing automatic qualification to the Tokyo World Championships in what could be their final chance to do so when they compete in the men’s 400m final tomorrow. McDonald won his heat in 45.48 seconds to be the third-fastest qualifier, while Kennedy was third in his heat in 45.59 to be the seventh-fastest qualifier. American Jenoah McKiver is the fastest qualifier with 44.96.
National champion Tyrice Taylor and Navasky Anderson are both through to tomorrow’s final of the men’s 800m after finishing second in the preliminary round.
Anderson clocked 1:46.81 behind winner Brandon Miller 1:46.14 of the United States to be the third-fastest qualifier while Taylor (1:49. 12) ended second behind Handel Roban (1:48.96) to advance fourth overall.
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