Kingston: Jamaica’s Olympic champion sprinter Elaine Thompson defended her national 100m title here Friday with a world leading time of 10.71 seconds.
Thompson, who completed a stunning Olympic 100m and 200m double at Rio, recovered from a moderate start to rein in training partner Christania Williams and pull away for an emphatic win. Thompson’s time improved on the year-best she set in Shanghai last month.
Simone Facey had a poor start but closed quickly over the last 30 metres to be runner-up in 11.04 seconds, just pipping third-placed Jura Levy.
Men’s former 100m World Champion Yohan Blake recorded a season-best 9.90 seconds to capture the national title in the absence of Olympic champion Usain Bolt, who decided to skip the meeting as he prepares for his World Championships farewell in London.
Blake, who won 100m and 200m silver at the 2012 London Olympics, recorded his fastest time since logging 9.69 seconds in 2012.
Julian Forte, who clocked a personal best 9.99 seconds to win his semifinal, was runner-up in 10.04 seconds, with Senoj-Jay Givans third. Asafa Powell, who has been nursing tendonitis, failed to report for the final after posting 10.15 seconds in his semifinal.
There was an upset in the women’s 400m hurdles when the little-known Ronda Whyte produced a late burst to win in a career best 54.28 seconds, edging runner-up Ristananna Tracey third-placed Leah Nugent.
Reuters
