Photo: A world leading and personal best effort of 10.72s (+1.6m/s) from USA sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100m highlighted the Inaugural staging of the Miramar Invitational held at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar Florida in the USA on Saturday.
Jamaica were served an early season warning by their American counterparts at the Inaugural staging of the Miramar Invitational held at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar Florida in the USA on Saturday.
With the World Athletics Relays less than 20 days away and the Olympic Games just over 100 days away there was more than enough cause for concern.
There was a world leading and personal best effort of 10.72s (+1.6m/s) from USA sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100m in which Jamaicans Natalliah Whyte, 11.16 and Natasha Morrison, 11.19 were third and fourth respectively. Kashieka Cameron who ran in the ‘B’ final was 12th overall with 11.41s.
A dominating win by another American, Jenna Prandini, over the defending women’s 200m Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah in the 200m in which the Jamaican was fourth in 22.44 and her teammate Briana Williams fifth in 22.93.
World champion and Indoor world record holder, American Grant Holloway was in a class by himself as he streaked to victory in the men’s 110 sprint hurdles final in a wind-aided 13.04s (+2.2m/s). Jamaicans, Ronald Levy in 13.39 and Andrew Riley in 13.42 were fourth and fifth respectively.
To add injury to insult, Akeem Bloomfield, of whom a lot is expected this season, went down clutching his hamstring, shortly after coming off the turn while running the men’s 200m.
On the bright side, Natoya Goule finished a close second in the women’s 800m in 2:00.92 as she was nicked on the line by American Ajee Wilson, who won in 2:00.57. Rajay Hamilton was third in the men’s 800m in 1:48.32 behind the American pair of Abe Alvarado 1:47.29 and Kameron Jones 1:48.33 as Alvarado out leaned his teammate, to snatch the win on the line.
Two Jamaicans were successful in the field events at the meet. World champion Tajay Gayle won the men’s long jump with a world leading 8.27m (+1.5m/s) as he continues to exhibit good early season form, while Danniel Thomas-Dodd won the women’s shot put with a best of 19.17m with Lloydricia Cameron finishing sixth with 18.11m.
Both Gayle and Thomas-Dodd have been very consistent over the last few seasons and continue to shine the torch for Jamaica in the field.
With most of the local-based athletes unable to prepare and perform as they normally would, due to the lockdown of the country for the past three weekends, there is wonder as to whether or not Jamaica will be able to make up the ground and perform to the standards that we have set over the last decade and a half, especially since there has been no word as to when track and field will be allowed to resume by the government.
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