Photo: Sanya Richards-Ross (49.95) leads home fellow American Francena McCorory (50.73) in the Women’s 400m at the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge Meet on Saturday. It was the 49th sub-50 clocking for Richards-Ross.
Global stars from over 14 countries from around the world, flew in for the 12 staging of the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge Meet (JIIIM) on Saturday, May 9, 2015.
There was absolutely no holding back, as several of the athletes racked up world leading times in their respective events.
The meet declared officially open by the Minister with the Responsibility for Sports, the Honourable Natalie Neita Hedley, in her speech encouraged the athletes to compete like true champions and they did live up such a charge.
Preceding the official opening of the meet was the running of the development races. Shimayra Williams 11.70 seconds and Winston Barnes 10.33 seconds captured the female and male short sprints respectively. The 200m was to follow which saw Samantha Curtis of Jamaica 24.09 seconds and Terrell Cotton of the United States of America 20.57 seconds taking top honours. Shericka Jackson 51.43M and Delano Williams, Great Britain &N 45.42s closed out action in the developmental section with victory in the female and male 400m.
It was almost a jumping rehearsal for Caterine Ibarguen, of Columbia as she broke the 9 year meet record: 14.34m set by Jamaica’s Trecia Smith in 2006. She went as far as 14.87m and was the only Competitor on the night to breach the 14m mark. Her fellow countrywoman Urrutia, Yosiri 13.81m was second.
It was a no show for Jamaica’s Kimberley Williams, who did not take to the run way, after being introduced by the stadium announcers. Jamaica’s other competitor, Shaneka Thomas could only managed 13.10 for 6th place in the event.
The other field events on the night, where dominated by the foreign athletes. In the star studded Shot Pot event, it was the American Trio of Christian Cantwell, 21.08m, Cory Martin, 20.74m and Ryan Whiting; 20.54m secured the top spots.
Hometown boy O’Dayne Richards 20.48m and Raymond Brown 17.93m finished in 4th and 7th spot respectively.
Jade Lally of Great Britain with 59.90m finished a top of the podium in the Women’s Shot Put. The American pair of Elizabeth Podomeni 59.50m and Ashley Whitney, 59.04m was second and third.
The Jamaican ladies in Shanice Brown 50.95m, Shanice Love 50.85m and Tarasue Barnett 46.98m had to settle for the minor spots.
The males matched up better in their event as Chad Wright came out best of all, with 61.84m for second spot in the discus event.
The event was won by Vikas Gowd of India with a distance of 65.14m erasing his previous meet record of 6.38m done in 2013. Jared Schuurmans, United States of America, threw 61.62m for third, while Fedrick Dacres 60.80m and Jason Morgan 60.58m rounded out the top five.
Amata, Doreen Nigeria 1.90m and Spencer, Lavern Saint Lucia 1.90m went one, two in the Women’s High Jump. Misha-Gaye Dacosta was Jamaica’s best competitor on the night clearing 1.75m for 4th spot.
The pole Vault for men was an all American affair, with Brad Walker 5.60m securing the top spot.
Elaine Thompson stunned a class field to secure the Women’s 100m in 10.97 seconds. The world leader in the event gave a Shelly Ann Fraser- Pryce like performance, to turn back the challenge of Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria 11.05 and veteran Allyson Felix, of the United States in 11.09. The young Jamaican recovered from a poor start to storm pass the veterans to the delight of the home fans.
The last four spots were rounded out with Natasha Morrison 11.22 seconds, Schillonie Calvert 11.23 seconds and Kerron Stewart 11.24 seconds.
Asafa Powell was returned to familiar territory, sprinting to world leading, 9.84 seconds to defeat American Ryan Bailey 9.93 seconds and Nesta Carter 9.98 seconds. The ‘Sub-10 King’ had the ladies jumping and screaming as he signaled his intentions to be a part of Jamaica’s World Championship team.
UTech’s Andrew Fisher ran a personal best 10.01 seconds in 4th spot ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson, 10.04seconds who rounded the top five spots.
The in-form American sprint hurdler Jasmin Stowers erased Gail Devers meet record of 12.50 second, to set a new world leading time of 12.39 seconds.
She was out like a rocket and dragged the Jamaican pair, Sisters Danielle and Shermaine Williams to second and third with times of 12.77 and 12.89 seconds respectively.
USA’S Aleec Harris, world lead equaling, 13.16 seconds won the men’s 110 Hurdles, in the process, erasing Antown Hicks meet record: 13.25 (2014). Jamaican’s Hansle Parchment 13.47 and Dwight Thomas 13.71 came across in 4th and 5th respectively.
United States’ Kori Carter, 55.12 seconds and Bershawn Jackson 48.47 seconds won the female and male 400m Hurdles event. Jamaican’s Janieve Russell 55.29 and Leford Green, 49.22 seconds secured the runner up spots in both events.
There was an epic battle in the 400m for women between America’s top guns Sanya Richards-Ross, and Francena McCorory. Ross pulled away in the homestretch to secure victory in a World lead and fast 49.95 seconds to record her 49th sub-50 time over the distance. Mcorory crossed the line in 50.73 seconds, with the local pair of Stephanie Ann McPherson 50.98 and Novlene Williams-Mills 51.32 seconds trailing home in 4th and 5th position.
Yousef Al-Masral of Saudi Arabia did 44.59m to smash the meet record of 44.66 seconds set by America’s Lashawn Merritt in 2005.
Merritt, had to settle for second in 44.80 seconds, with Jamaica’s best quarter miler this season, Javon Francis, fading in the homestretch but was able to achieve a new personal best of 44.90 seconds for third spot.
Bahamian Shaunae Miller 22.14s equaled the meeting record of 22.14 set by Sherone Simpson in 2006, and setting a new national record, in winning the women’s 200m. She managed to stave off her competitors in Tori Bowin of the United States 22.29 and Jamaica’s sprint sensation Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce 22.37 seconds. The top five spots were rounded out by Simpson 22.64 and American Sholanda Soloman 22.71 seconds.
Nickel Ashmeade secured the male equivalent in 20.25 seconds ahead of Rusheed Dwyer 20.28 seconds for a Jamaican one-two.
Bridget Frenek 9:46.34 and Ajee Wilson 2:00.65 both of the United States of America won the 3000m steeplechase and 800m events respectively.
The 3000m for men went to Juan Luis Barrios, of Mexico in 7:59.92 seconds ahead of, Andrew J. Acosta of United States in 8:08.14 seconds.
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