Burton, Gordon set for first senior titles
ACTION IS expected to reach fever pitch when competition on the second day of the JAAA National Senior Championships gets under way today with the staging of three finals in the field and six on the track. The following are the previews of 10 selected events and a likely top three.
WOMEN’S 100M
No stopping the fastest woman in the world in this event. Elaine Thompson is the overall Diamond League winner and has already qualified for IAAF World Championships. The Stephen Francis-coached athlete will not double in London and will compete only in the 100 metres at the Trials. She is the world leader with a best of 10.78 seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League in May. Simone Facey, Joniel Smith, Christania Williams, Sashalee Forbes, and Natasha Morrison will battle for the other two spots. Top three: 1. Elaine Thompson 2. Joniel Smith 3. Simone Facey
WOMEN’S 200M
A wide-open race with Thompson out. Following her third-place finish at the Diamond League last week with a season’s best of 22.77, Simone Facey is given the nod. Top three: 1. Simone Facey 2. Sashalee Forbes 3. Samantha Henry-Robinson
400M
Shericka Jackson, the World and Olympic bronze medallist, usual peaks late in the season and NCAA Division 1 champion Chris Ann Gordon should capture her first senior title. She is the most consistent Jamaican so far in the event with a best of 50.39 seconds. Jackson will definitely be second, with third up for grabs. Veteran Novlene Williams-Mills and Stephenie Ann McPherson should decide third. Top three: 1. Chris Ann Gordon 2. Shericka Jackson 3. Stephenie McPherson
WOMEN’S 100M HURDLES
It is unlikely that the defending World Champion Danielle Williams will start here. Even if she starts, no one will stop the vastly improved Rushelle Burton. Since winning a silver medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Poland last year, she has moved from strength to strength and recently became the fastest-ever freshman in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after her third-place finish in 12.65 seconds. Top three: 1. Rushelle Burton 2. Danielle Williams (if she starts)
3. Megan Simmonds
WOMEN’S 400M HURDLES
A straight fight here between the 2015 champion Janieve Russell and last year’s winner, Ristananna Tracy. Russell, who showed great form in Rome recently, should win. Top three: 1. Janieve Russell 2. Ristananna Tracy 3. Leah Nugent
MEN’S 100M
Yohan Blake is looking like his old self, and after two sub-10 seconds on home soil at the JII meet and the JN Racers Grand Prix, he should make it win number three at the National Stadium in less than four weeks. Veteran Asafa Powell is battling injury, but he will be dangerous. Others like Jevaughn Minzie, Odean Skeen, and Nickel Ashmeade are ready to pounce. Top three: 1. Yohan Blake 2. Asafa Powell 3. Nickel Ashmeade
MEN’S 200M
A quick double for Blake here with a very interesting battle for the next two spots. Top three: 1. Yohan Blake 2. Rasheed Dwyer 3. Nickel Ashmeade
MEN’S 400M
This could be the event of the championships. A new champion will be crowned as defending champion Javon Francis is out injured. A cracker here, but the consistent Nathon Allen, who was third a year ago, is given the edge over Demish Gaye and Akeem Bloomfield. Top three: 1. Nathon Allen 2. Demish Gaye 3. Akeem Bloomfield
MEN’S 110M HURDLES
Olympic champion Omar McLeod will start as the favourite here. The world leader with 13.01 seconds, he will be looking for his third title in three years. Great competition should come from both Ronald Levy and former champion Hansle Parchment. McLeod cannot put a foot wrong here as new kid on the block. Levy is well conditioned for the ‘kill’ and could provide the upset of the championships. Top three: 1. Omar McLeod 2. Ronald Levy 3. Hansle Parchment
MEN’S 400M HURDLES
Jaheel Hyde is ready for his first senior title. He loves competing at the National Stadium and will want to satisfy his expected big fan club by taking the big prize. However, he should find the NCAA bronze medallist Kemar Mowatt in his way. Mowatt has been consistent all season and has gone sub-49 seconds twice and is expected to go low 48 seconds here. After knocking on the door for some time, it could be breakout for André Clarke, the former Vere Technical and G.C. Foster College man. Top three: 1. Kemar Mowatt 2. Jaheel Hyde 3. André Clarke