Shelly to shine at Destiny Series
Published:Saturday | June 5, 2021 | 12:11 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
Fresh off her 100 metres success at the recent Doha Diamond League, World 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, will be hoping to improve on her season’s best 10.84 seconds when she competes in the event at today’s third JOA/JAAA Olympic Destiny Series meet inside the National Stadium starting at 8:15 a.m.
This will be Fraser-Pryce’s first appearance at the Destiny Series where athletes will be competing for cash prizes in Premium and Classic events. Fraser-Pryce’s main rival in the short sprint will be MVP’s Natasha Morrison, the country’s third-ranked athlete in the event with 10.87.
Following on her personal best 11.02 seconds to capture the 100 metres at last Saturday’s meet, World Championships and Olympic Games 400 metres bronze medallist Shericka Jackson will compete in the opening event, the women’s 200 metres today. Here she will battle the improving Roneisha McGregor and the Bahamian Anthonique Strachan who will represent MVP Track Club.
An exciting battle is expected in the women’s 400m as MVP’s Stephenie Ann McPherson, with a season’s best 51.09 seconds, will have her hands full fighting off the challenges of the improving Candice McLeod of UWI Mona with a season’s best 51.11, Sprin Tec’s Tovea Jenkins with a best of 51.54 and McGregor.
Julian Forte, with a season’s best 10.07 seconds, will be hoping to dominate the men’s 100 metres. In his heat, he will take on the likes of Racers’ Oblique Seville and the Sprin Tec duo of Andrew Fisher and Canadian Brandon Rodney.
Antonio Watson of Petersfield High will renew rivalry with Edwin Allen High’s Brian Levell in the 200 metres. They finished one-two in the Class One final at the recent ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships. Also down to contest this event are 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rasheed Dwyer and his Sprin Tec teammate, Romario Williams.