Dwyer gears up for CWG

While many of the fans were focusing on the high-school Digicel Grand Prix events at Saturday’s staging of the G.C. Foster Classics inside the National Stadium, there were several of the country’s top senior athletes on show, as they continued preparations for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Leading the way was Commonwealth Games 200 metres champion Rasheed Dwyer of Sprintec.

Dwyer topped the field in the 100 and 200 metres, clocking 10.47 seconds to win the shorter sprint in heavy negative wind (3.9 metres per second), then returned later to take the 200 metres in 20.34 seconds (-1.7 metres per second). Javon Francis of Akan Track Club, who will be participating at the Commonwealth Games in the 400 metres, finished second in 20.83 seconds.

Oshane Bailey, representing G.C. Foster College, also took home a 100 metres race in 10.40 seconds, edging out Jason Rodgers of Racers Track Club, who was second in 10.42 seconds, with former World Youth champion Dexter Lee of Akan Track Club, coming in third in 10.44 seconds, all running into a negative wind of 2.3 metres per second.

Answert Whyte, who had a poor season last year, returned to good form in winning the 400m hurdles in 49.66 seconds, getting the better of national champion Jaheel Hyde, who was second in 49.76 seconds, as G.C. Foster College’s Demar Murray ended third in 50.94 seconds.

FORBES BEATS SIMPSON

World University Games 100 metres champion, Sashalee Forbes of G.C. Foster College captured the women’s 200 metres. Running in a negative wind of 1.7 metres per second, she stopped the clock at 23.19 seconds, getting the better of Sprintec’s Sherone Simpson, 23.41 seconds.

Olympic Games 100 metres finalist Christania Williams (MVP Track club) won the100 metres in 11.46 seconds in a negative-5.0 metres per second wind factor. Shericka Jackson was second in 11.53 seconds. In the other race, Natasha Morrison won in 11.48 seconds, ahead of Jodean Williams, 11.58 seconds. Here, the athletes ran in a negative wind of 1.4 metres per second. – R.G.