Thompson, Taylor sizzle at JAAA All Comers meet

ELAINE THOMPSON and Calabar High School’s Christopher Taylor stole the spotlight on Saturday at the second Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) All Comers Meet inside the National Stadium with fantastic running in the 200 metres, as athletes warmed up for next month’s National Junior and Senior Championships.

Thompson, with a world-leading 10.92 seconds in the 100m, continues to excite in her breakout season.

After being pressured in the early stage by University of Technology teammate Shericka Jackson, Thompson pulled away in the latter stages to win in a personal-best 22.37 seconds, the joint fifth fastest time in the world this season. Jackson was second in 23.07, with Natasha Morrison of MVP third overall, after winning her heat in 23.37 seconds.

The 15-year-old Taylor turned back the likes of St Jago High’s Martin Manley and Marvin Williams of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) to win the 200m in a personal-best 20.78 seconds ahead of Manley, who clocked 21.37.

Nathon Allen of St Jago was the second overall among the schoolboys, winning his heat in 20.96 seconds. Michael O’Hara, also of Calabar, was third overall after winning his heat in 20.97 seconds.

Among the seniors, World 200 metres silver medallist, Warren Weir, of Racers Track Club, was beaten in his first 200 metres this season. Despite looking easy in the earlier part of the race, Weir played second fiddle to teammate Terrell Cotton, who won in 20.22 seconds.

Weir clocked 20.53, while MVP’s Rusheen McDonald took third with a 20.57 clocking.

Janieve Russell raced to an easy win in the 400m hurdles in 56.62 seconds, getting the better of G.C. Foster College’s Ronda Whyte, who recorded a personal best of 57.07. STETHS’ Junelle Bromfield also raced to a personal best, 58.07, in finishing third.

Racers’ Annsert Whyte took the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.23 seconds ahead of G.C. Foster’s André Clarke (50.48) and Rome Lewis of Sprint Tec (51.14).

In field events, G.C. Foster’s Tarasue Barnett won the women’s discus with 55.67m ahead of teammate Shanice Brown (49.86m) and MVP’s Geneva Greaves, 43.78m.

Glenford Watson of G.C. Foster men’s equivalent finished with 54.22m ahead of the University of the West Indies’ Basil Bingham (52.35m).

Munro College’s Kino Dunkley (50.38m) topped the high-school category ahead of Petersfield High’s Sanjae Lawrence (49.76m).

RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Elaine Thompson (left) wining the women’s 100m ahead of Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (centre) and Kerron Stewart at the Jamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium earlier this month. Thompson topped the women’s 200m in 22.37 seconds at...