KINGSTON, Jamaica — Rushell Clayton and Janieve Russell were among the fastest qualifiers from the women’s 400m hurdles heats at the Jamaica National Senior and Junior Championships here at the National Stadium on Thursday.
Clayton of Swept Track Club eased into Friday night’s final after posting a time of 55.36 seconds to win heat 1 with the swiftest time of the two heats.
Shiann Salmon of G.C. Foster College ran 55.54 for second place behind Clayton to qualify for the final as well.
Nikita Tracey of Swept Track Club (55.95) and sister Ristananna Tracey of Hurdle Mechanics (57.74) also advanced to the decider.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Janieve Russell stopped the clock at a comfortable 55.74 second to win the second heat ahead of the fast-finishing Ronda Whyte of Sprintec who ran 55.79.
Kaliese Carter of Sprintec was third in 56.52, while Ranae McKenzie, who competes for Kansas State, finished fourth in 57.94 and progressed to the final as well.
MEN’S QUALIFIERS
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Javarn Gallimore of Swept Track Club posted the fastest time from the heats after he won heat 2 in 49.48.
Running out of lane six, Gallimore got the better of a good lineup to set a personal best on his way to advancing to the final.
Andre Clarke of Chase Athletics was second in the heat in 49.86, with third going to Shawn Rowe 50.03. Both hurdlers also progressed to the last eight.
Kemar Mowatt qualified second fastest from the heats after he ran 49.69 to take the first race from lane eight.
Following Mowatt home was Romel Lewis, who crossed the line in 49.81, while Sheldon Williams booked his place in the final with a time of 49.86 for third place.
After a long delay due to problems with the clock, a well relaxed Jaheel Hyde of the MVP track club captured the third and final heat in 50.66, beating Kemario Eldemire of G.C. Foster (50.90).
