Yohan Blake scores big win at American Track League

Jamaica’s Deagu 2011 world champion Yohan Blake won the men’s 100m dash at Friday’s (9 July) American Track League in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Blake, who timed the starter’s gun very well, blazed down the straight of the Marietta High School track to cross the line in 9.95 seconds. “I am very excited about the time; give God thanks,” said Blake.

He was the only sub-10 runner as Americans Elijah Hall, 10.08 and Kyree King, 10.12, had to settle for the minor places. St. Kitts and Nevis’ Jason Rodgers was fifth in 10.26. Jamaican Javoy Tucker finished eighth in 10.35.

Blake, the second-place finisher at the Jamaica Olympic Trials, noted: “This is going to be my last Olympic, and I am looking forward to it. Definitely, I am not leaving that stadium (Tokyo 2020) without a medal.”

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Track and field action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is from 30 July to 8 August.

Blake ran the fastest time, 10.09, in the prelims.

English Gardner won the women’s 100m final in 11.12 ahead of Canadian Khamica Bingham, 11.21 and American Brittney Brown, also 11.21.

English Gardner led the qualifiers in the women’s 100m with 11.16.
Natalliah Whyte, who got into the final with 11.50, did not start, while Remona Burchell missed out after running 11.55.

King ran 20.26 to beat Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer, 20.62 and Kyle Greaux of Trinidad and Tobago, 20.74. Jamaicans Nathon Allen, 20.81 and Jevaughn Minzie, 21.00, were fourth and sixth.
Lyna Irby of USA ran 22.70 to take the women’s event ahead of fellow American Kortnei Johnson, 22.83.

Danielle Williams wins the women’s sprint hurdles

Danielle Williams, who was fourth at the Jamaica Olympic Trials, ran 12.62 to take the women’s 100m hurdles final. Williams, who ran 12.68 in the heats, beat Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, 12.71 and Tiffany Porter of Great Britain, 12.88.

Hansle Parchment, the London 2012 bronze medallist, was a second-place finisher in the men’s high hurdles. He ran 13.32 to finish behind Michael Dickson of USA, 13.23.

Ronda Whyte was the third Jamaica winner at the American Track League

Ronda Whyte of Jamaica won the women’s 400m hurdles in 54.47. She beat Melissa Gonzalez of Columbia, 55.54 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Sparkle McKnight, 55.62.

CJ Allen of the USA ran 48.73 to win the men’s ahead of compatriot Khalilifah Rosser, 49.28 and Andre Clarke, 49.67.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Cedenio took second place in the men’s 400m, running 45.34 to finish behind Will London of USA, 45.08. Jamaican Demish Gaye finished fifth in 46.13, just ahead of Jamal Walton of the Cayman Islands, 46.35.

Candice McLeod, the fast-improving Jamaican quarter-miler, ran 51.51, only beaten by Jessica Beard of USA, 51.11.
Three other Jamaicans, Tovea Jenkins, 52.19, Anastasia Le-Roy, 52.35 and Tiffany James, 52.88, were fourth, seventh and ninth.

McLeod, Jenkins and James are members of Jamaica’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games team.