KINGSTON, Jamaica – Yohan Blake and Elaine Thompson stayed on course to win respective sprint doubles at the Jamaica Olympic Trials after both cruised into the final of the men’s and women’s 200m races on Saturday night.
The 200m finals are set for Sunday night.
After the preliminaries were cancelled because of insufficient entries for the half-lap races, both sprinters came out and took command of their respective categories in the evening session.
Thompson, who won the women’s 100m title on Friday night, posted a time of 23.38 second to easily win the third semi-final race on Saturday, finishing ahead of Kerron Stewart, who also advanced to the final with a second place 23.45 finish.
Posting the fastest time of the semi-finals, however, was the in-form Simone Facey, who took her heat in 22.81, beating Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (23.15), who was a surprise starter after she had been complaining of a toe injury.
Audra Segree was third in 23.16 and just missed out on a spot in the final.
The other semi-final heat was won by Kali Davis-White in a time of 23.02. She defeated Samantha Henry-Robinson, who ran 23.06 and Veronica Campbell-Brown, 23.07.
All three sprinters advanced to the final on Sunday.
On the men’s side, Blake ran 20.29 seconds to secure his place in the final, leading home Everton Clarke (20.45) and Rasheed Dwyer (20.46).
Running the fastest time of the three semi-finals was Julian Forte, who made up for his false-start in the quarterfinals of the 100m, by clocking 20.21 to take semis one.
Olympic bronze medallist, Warren Weir, looking around in the closing metres, finished second in 20.74. He’s expected to go faster on Sunday.
Nickel Ashmeade won the other semi-final heat in 20.48.
Meanwhile, Omar McLeod flashed to victory in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.01 seconds and said afterwards that he expects to go faster in Rio.
Elsewhere on Saturday’s third day of action at the Jamaica Olympic Trials, all the big names, including Rusheen McDonald, Fitzroy Dunkley, Javon Francis, as well as Christine Day, Stephenie-Ann Mcpherson, Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Jackson – advanced to the men’s and women’s 400m finals.
Damar Forbes leapt 8.16m to win the men’s long jump with an Olympic standard, Fedrick Dacres took the men’s Discus Throw with 62.27m, while Christoff Bryan won the men’s high jump with 2.25m.
McLeod, the world indoor 60m hurdles champion and world-leader in the 110m hurdles, responded well to the challenge of Deuce Carter at the half way mark when pulling away for the victory.
Carter secured his place to Rio with a second place 13.21 secs finish, while Andrew Riley took third in 13.49.
Olympic bronze medallist and world silver medallist Hansle Parchment, the third fastest man in the event this season was unable to compete and has submitted a medical exemption.
Natoya Goule won the women’s 800m title in 2:00.23 over veteran half-miler Kenia Sinclair 2:01.11.
