Blake, Powell record victories
Published:Friday | June 24, 2011 | 9:28 AM
Fast rising sprinter Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell recorded convincing victories last night to take the spotlight on day one of the National Senior Championships.
Blake, of Racers Track Club, clocked a very fast 9.83 seconds to win the fourth and final heat of the men’s 100-metre quarterfinal. However, he was aided by a strong 3.7 metres per second wind speed.
Michael Frater of MVP Track Club took it easy to clock 9.86 for second place, but was also aided by the strong wind speed.
Powell of MVP Track Club won Heat Three in an effortless 9.99 seconds.
Man of the moment Steve Mullings won Heat One in 10.13, while Nesta Carter clocked 10.05 seconds to take the second heat.
The final is scheduled for tonight at 9.25 p.m., just two hours after the semi-finals.
Earlier, national record holder Jermaine Gonzales had to work hard to win Heat One of the men’s 400 metres. He clocked 45.61 seconds to progress to tomorrow’s semi-finals with the fastest qualifying time.
Oral Thompson, Allodin Fothergill, Edino Steele and Lansford Spence also advanced.
Kaliese Spencer enters tomorrow’s semi-final of the women’s 400 metres with the fastest time after she ran a season’s best 50.86 seconds to win her heat ahead of Davita Prendergast, 51.47 seconds.
Rosemarie Whyte , Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams also advanced.
In the men’s 400 hurdles, Danny McFarlane, 49.59 seconds, remains on course for another national title after he posted the fastest time among the qualifiers. The final will take place tonight at 8.30 p.m.
Today’s second day starts at 3 p.m.
The four-day trials will be used to select Jamaica’s team to the IAAF World Championships in Daegu from August 27 to September 4.