KINGSTON, Jamaica – Yohan Blake copped the men’s sprint double at the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Championships on Sunday (July 3) at the National Stadium.
Blake, who topped the 100m on Friday’s second night in 9.94 seconds, returned to add the 200m in 20.29 seconds.
The 2011 world champion, who ran a very good curve and moved away from his opponents in the straight, finished ahead of Nickel Ashmeade and Julian Forte, both timed in 20.45.
Warren Weir, the Olympic Games bronze medallist, finished fourth in 20.50.
Blake, in celebrating another sprint double title, said, “God is good, God is alive.”
“The feeling is really good,” he said while reminding journalists of a similar performance four years ago and promised the same four years from now.
“That is to show that I have heart, and God has been working miracle in my life, this is what miracle is all about.”
On the race, he said: “I just listened to the coach and execute my race well and I got the victory.”
In the women’s event, Simone Facey powered down the homestretch to take victory in 22.65.
Facey, who went down on the track in tears after finishing ahead of her idol, Veronica Campbell-Brown, 22.80, was winning her second 200m national title.
Kali Davis-White finished third in 22.94 while Kerron Stewart ended fourth in 23.52.
Both Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce did not start in the event final.
Francis, McPherson rule quarter mile in Jamaica
Javon Francis and Stephenie-Ann McPherson reigned supreme on Sunday’s (July 3) final day of Jamaica’s Olympic Trials at the National Stadium.
Both were briefly threatened in the homestretch, but neither one allowed pressure to stop their progress.
In the women’s final, Christine Day, the most consistent through the rounds, gave it her best, but McPherson held on for victory in 50.04.
“I was expecting a faster time,” said McPherson, who said the condition wasn’t the best at the time of the race. “The work doesn’t stop here,” she added.
Day, who had enough to hold off the fast finishing Shericka Jackson, who left it too late, was second in 50.29. World Championships bronze medallist, Jackson, finished strong in 50.42 and will be going to her first Olympic Games.
Day was pleased with her performance; explaining, “It was pretty good. Today was a little too windy and it kind of affected my execution, but I am still grateful for the second place,” the 2015 champion said.
Novlene Williams-Mills, the veteran in the field, had to settle for fourth in 50.64, and along with former Holmwood stars Anneisha McLaughlin, 51.03 and Chrisann Gordon, 51.09, should make up the relay pool.
In the men’s final, Francis, who was literally unchallenged in the final 50 metres, crossed the finish line in 44.95. “The plan was just to come out here and make the Olympic team,” said Francis. The battle was for the minor places and in the end; Fitzroy Dunkley won his first senior Jamaica team ticket in 45.35 ahead of Nathon Allen, third in 45.52, but short of the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.50.
Rusheen McDonald, 45.61, Peter Matthews, 45.73 and Javere Bell, 45.73 rounded off the top six finishers. World youth champion Christopher Taylor’ ran 45.88 for seventh place.
In the women’s 100m hurdles final, Megan Simmonds delivered big time to take the top spot in a personal best 12.79.
“I came into the championships with a revelation from God that success has to be this year …so I just came out, even though on my way down the steps for semis, I twisted my ankle really bad, I just said ‘Satan you not getting me this time’.”
Simmonds continued: “God have me, God say success, so I am coming out here for the success and that’s what I did. I just believed in Him, I just put positive thoughts in my head, negatives have no place and just came out here, executed my own race, and God gave me the win and I am, so grateful.”
Shermaine Williams was second in 12.90 and Nickiesha Wilson, third in 12.97, both below the Olympic standard of 13secs.
World champion, Danielle Williams, did not finish.
In the field, Rio bound, O’Dayne Richards, threw 20.82m to beat Ashinia Miller, 19.21, in the men’s shot put.
Kimberly Williams won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 14.66m over Shanieka Thomas, 14.44m, both on their way to Rio.
Kimberly Williamson cleared 1.86m for victory in the women’s high jump over Saniel Atkinson-Grier, 1.83m, both below the 1.93m required standard.
