LEONORA, Guyana – Former World and Olympic 400m champion Kirani James continued his comeback from illness with his second victory in two weeks, this time at Saturday’s (June 30) Aliann Pompey Invitational.
James, the winner of the London 2012 Olympic and Daegu 2011 World Championships, sat out most of the entire 2017 season with Grave’s disease.
On his first visit to Guyana, James, who was smooth throughout the entire race, won the one-lap event in 44.99secs.
Chidi Okezie of Nigeria, 45.97secs, and Guyanese Winston George, 46.13secs, took the minor places.
Two Jamaican winners at Aliann Pompey Invitational
Jonielle Smith of Jamaica ran 11.31secs for the top spot in the women’s 100m, beating American Tawanna Meadows, 11.41secs and Reyare Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago, 11.48secs.
Rushell Clayton, who trailed for most of the race, took charge in the homestretch and cruised to victory in the women’s 400m hurdles. She crossed the line in 55.15secs to beat fellow Jamaican Nikita Tracey, 55.52secs.
Emmanuel Archibald was Guyanese big winner on the day with 10.29secs in the men’s 100m.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Kyle Greaux, who was second in the men’s 100m with 10.39secs, returned to take the 200m in 20.43secs.
In the field, American champion Donald Scott topped the men’s triple jump with 17.22m, beating his meet record mark of 17.02 set in 2016.
Cristian Napoles of Cuba took second place with 16.96m while Guyanese Commonwealth Games champion Troy Doris finished fourth with 16.09m.