The semifinals of the women’s 200m at the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Championships (Rio 2016 Olympics Trials) on Saturday’s Day III (July 2), saw the nation’s top female sprinters progressing comfortably to the finals of the competition, without much competition.
The inform Simone Facey ran a good race to finish ahead of a fast finishing Shelly Ann Fraser- Pryce, in 22.81, to Fraser Pryce 23.15 in semi-final 1. Third place went to Audra Segree in a time of 23.16.
Semifinal 2 saw the veteran, Veronica Campbell- Brown, flying off the curve and perhaps thought she was safe in a top two position.
However, she had to settle for third, as there was a rush across the line, which saw Kali Davis-Whyte taking the top spot in a time of 23.02 ahead of Samantha Henry-Robinson 23.06.
Campbell-Brown’s 23.07 for third made it into the final as one of the fastest losers.
The final semifinal saw Jamaica’s super woman, Elaine Thompson, winning easily, in a time of 23.34, ahead of the fast finishing Kerron Stewart, who ran a brilliant curve, clocking 23.45 and Leslie Gilzine, third in 23.72.
In the men’s equivalent, Julian Forte made up for the disappointment in the 100m, by clocking 20.21, to book his place in the final, ahead of an improving Warren Weir, in 20.74.
Third place went to Kavean Smith, in 20.82, which was not good enough for a place in the final.
The second semifinal went to Nickel Ashmeade in 20.48, after he moved in his blocks and the event was called back. The green card was shown to the field, which cleared the way for the race to go on. In second was Renard Howell, in 20.52 and third went to Oshane Bailey, in 20.57.
The third and final semifinal, saw the resurgent, Yohan Blake, winning in a time of 20.29sec, running fast down the straight to overtake Everton Clarke, the second place finisher in 20.45 and Rasheed Dwyer, who fought hard to the line in 20.46 for third place.
Awwhhh broy ! Poor Veronica