KINGSTON, Jamaica — All the promising names advanced from the heats of the men’s and women’s 400m on Friday afternoon at the 2019 Jamaica Senior and Junior National Championships here at the National Stadium.
Christine Day eased into the semi-finals of the women’s event with the fastest time. The Sprintec talent clocked 51.47 seconds to set a season’s best when winning heat 3 of 4.
Also setting a seasonal best in advancing was Junelle Bromfield, who stopped the clock at 52.32, while Sharrika Barnett took third in 52.35.
Slipping under 52 seconds as well in the heats were Chrisann Gordon and MVP pair of Shericka Jackson and Stephenie-Ann McPherson.
Gordon, the fastest Jamaican this season on the women’s side, won heat two in 51.91, while McPherson earned the win in the fourth heat with 51.97 ahead of training partner Jackson, who started very slowly before accelerating home to take second in 51.98.
Other notable qualifiers on the women’s side were Asaine Hall (52.42), Anastasia Le-Roy (52.45) and Tiffany James (52.47).
The semi-finals of the women’s 400m is slated for Saturday.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Terry Thomas led all qualifiers and was the only starter to break 46 seconds on the day.
The Racers Track Club talent stopped the clock at 45.83 to win heat three of five, beating Martin Manley, who ran 46.78.
Sean Bailey of the University of Texas at El Paso won his heat in 46.06 seconds, the second swiftest on the day, while Javon Francis (47.36) national record holder Rusheen McDonald (46.67) and Demish Gaye (46.77) eased into the semi-finals as well.
