8 hours ago
1
ONE OF the ‘hottest’ Jamaicans on the track this season is sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent, with standout performances at the Grand Slam Track Series and the Diamond League.
This weekend at the National Senior Championships, she will be looking to retain her title by winning the women’s 100-metre hurdles.
The quickest Jamaican this season over the barriers, Nugent clocked a season’s best 12.30 seconds last Friday at the Paris Diamond League, where she finished third. She is yet to finish outside the top three in all her races so far this season, and it will take something extra special from any of her rivals to beat her this weekend.
A year ago, she turned back Danielle Williams and Janeek Brown to claim her first national senior title, improving on her second-place finish the previous year.
With Williams getting a bye to Tokyo as the defending world champion, Jamaica will have four slots in the event. While Nugent is the overwhelming favourite to win and grab one of those spots, it will be interesting to see who joins her and Williams in Tokyo.
After missing the top three last year, Megan Tapper – the 2021 Olympic bronze medallist and 2023 national champion – is the second-fastest Jamaican this season with a best of 12.50. She performed well in the Grand Slam Track Series and usually shows up strong at the National Championships. It should be no different this time around.
The race for the remaining spot will be very interesting.
MAJOR SETBACK
After a successful collegiate season, Habibah Harris looked like a lock for a top-three finish. However, the former St Elizabeth Technical standout suffered a major setback at the recent NCAA Division One Championships, representing the University of Florida.
A favourite to go all the way, Harris – who is the fourth-fastest Jamaican this season at 12.62 seconds and was unbeaten on the collegiate circuit – had to pull out of the finals after injuring herself during a 4x100-metre relay.
Brown, who returned from a long break to finish third last year, has been missing in action all season.
World Indoor representative Amoi Brown has scarcely raced since her eighth-place finish in the 60m hurdles in Nanjing but may be gearing up for this moment and could finish among the top three.
Also in the mix are Marissa Simpson (12.81) and Oneika Wilson (12.94), who both competed at the NCAA Championships, along with Crystal Morrison (12.94), Kerrica Hill, and Demisha Roswell, both with season’s bests of 12.96.
In the end, it should be a cakewalk for the outstanding Nugent to make it back-to-back wins.
English (US) ·