Yohan Blake and Megan Tapper were among the Jamaican winners at Sunday’s (18 July) American Track League (ATL) Meet at Trabuco Hills High School in California, United States.
Jamaicans, led by Blake, dominated the hall lap event. Blake ran 20.22 to win ahead of fellow Jamaicans Rasheed Dwyer, 20.22, Jevaughn Minzie, 20.29 and Jazeel Murphy, 20.49.
Tapper, Jamaica Olympic Trials winner, sizzled to an impressive 12.48 seconds win in the women’s 100m hurdles. The time, however, was supported by a +3.6m/s wind. Yanique Thompson was third in 12.75, and American Evonne Britton, second in 12.72.
Minzie, Whyte and Jenkins secure wins American Track League
Minzie won the men’s 100m dash, running 10.09 seconds, supported by a +2.3m/s tailwind. Three other Jamaicans, Tyquendo Tracey, 10.11 for fourth, Jazeel Murphy, 10.15 for sixth and Javoy Tucker, 10.22 for seventh, also took part in the race. Murphy ran a personal best, 10.17s in the heats.
Dwyer also ran 10.17 but did not contest the final. Minzie ran 10.18.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Tokyo 2020 bound Whyte ran 55.57 to beat Grace Claxton of Puerto Rica, 56.26.
Jenkins, who is also heading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, won the women’s 400m in 51.53 ahead of American Jaide Stepter 51.87 and fellow Jamaican Anastasia Le-Roy, 51.99.
Candace Hill takes double at American Track League
Hill ran 10.99 (+2.5m/s wind) to beat Barbados’ Tristan Evelyn, 11.23 and Jamaican Remona Burchell, 11.24.
Le-Roy, later ran 22.79 in the women’s 200m, won by Hill, 22.30 (+3.3m/s). Burchell finished sixth in 23.63.
In the men’s 400m, Jamaicans Nathon Allen, 45.89 for second and Demish Gaye, 46.04 for fourth, ran their last race before next week’s start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Khallifah Rosser of the USA won the event in 45.74. Jamal Walton of Cayman Islands ran 46.76 for fifth.