Fraser-Pryce, Seville make big statements
Published:Thursday | June 23, 2022 | 9:49 PM
The National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships inside the National Stadium produced possibly one of the fastest first rounds over 100 metres in history on Thursday evening.
The feats of speed were led by Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, who made a big statement, clocking 10.70 seconds to win her first-round heat against a game Briana Williams.
Williams was second, easing down in defeat to clock 10.98 seconds.
Shericka Jackson was also in fine form, driving from the blocks, but then remaining easy for 10.99 seconds, even though she was pipped at the line by Kemba Nelson, who pulled out all the stops for 10.98.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, the double Olympic Champion, was also comfortable, winning her heat in 11.06 seconds, ahead of Natasha Morrison and (11.10) and Shockoria Wallace (11.21).
In the men’s 100 metres, there were also some pleasing performances.
Oblique Seville, who has not run since clocking 9.86 seconds a few weeks ago, made it clear he was the man to beat, making 9.98 seconds look easy.
Veteran sprinter, and the second fastest man in history over both the 100 and 200 metres, was in no mood to play second fiddle on today’s opening day, clocking his first sub-10 of the season with a 9.93-second win in the second heat of the fast men.
That heat also featured the return of Kemar Bailey-Cole, who was second in 10.06. Nigel Ellis was third in 10.10.
In another surprise, one of the form men among Jamaican sprinters, Ackeem Blake, was left in the blocks, but still managed a fast 10.01 seconds for second. The surprise in that heat was Conroy Jones, who finished in 10 seconds flat.
Heat four of the event among the men brought the times back to reality with Kadrian Goldson of GC Foster College making it through to the semi-finals in 10.16s, ahead of Mario Heslop (10.19s) and the University of Oregon’s Xavier Nairne (10.23s).
The semi-finals and final of both events take place on Friday.
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