Athletes slow out of the blocks ahead of U20 Champs

In their final competition ahead of overseas meets next week, the country’s athletes failed to fire at Saturday’s JAAA World Under-20 and CAC Games Departure Meet inside the National Stadium, producing average performances across the board.

With the World Under-20 Championships set to begin next Wednesday in Eugene, Oregon, the best performance by a junior came in the field, where Joseph Salmon won the men’s discus.

Salmon, who is ranked number two in the event heading into next week’s championships, threw 64.92 metres to take the win ahead of Kamari Kennedy, who was second with 56.30m, and Denzil Phillips, third with 53.27m.

On the track, 800m specialist Kevongaye Fowler was the overall champion in the women’s 400m. Fowler, who will compete in the 800m in Eugene, won her heat in a personal-best 53.69 seconds for the fastest time of the day. Daniella Dixon, who will contest the one-lap event in Eugene, was second in 54.20, while Marria Crossfield, who will compete in the 400m hurdles at the championships, was third in 54.96. Shameika McLean, who is also down to contest the 400m in Eugene, could only manage seventh in 55.67.

Jabara Matheson had the best result among the men in the 400m after winning in 46.88, getting the better of Zachary Wallace, who was second in 47.03, and Wendell Miller, third in 47.36.

Marquis Page, who will contest the boys’ 110m hurdles in Eugene, raced to victory in 13.59, ahead of Noel Wright, second in 13.64, while Taj Oneil Gordon, who will partner Page in the event in Eugene, was third in 13.72.

Antonio Forbes was the quickest in the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.67 seconds, finishing ahead of Jahvarie Tyrell, second in 53.07.

In other events, Jura Levy and Natasha Morrison, who are both down to compete at the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic, secured victories. Levy captured the women’s 200m in 23.83, finishing ahead of Oneika Brissett, who was second in 24.38, and Serena Cole, third in 24.39.

Veteran, Morrison won the women’s 100m in 11.37 ahead of Cole, who finished second in 11.45, with Levy taking third in 11.47.

World Championships representative Ackera Nugent was first in the women’s 100m hurdles, winning in 13.17 as World Under-20 Championships-bound Ackeelah Bell finished second in 13.92.

Shakur Williams captured the men’s 100m in 10.12 ahead of Rasheed Foster, who was second in 10.16, with Sandrey Davison, third in 10.18.

Tyquendo Tracy, who is also down to compete at the CAC Games, was victorious in the men’s 200m after clocking 20.89, getting the better of Adrian Kerr, who was second in 21.04, and Ashani Smith, third in 21.16.

In the field, Michael Andre Edwards, who is down to contest the long jump and triple jump in Eugene, won the triple jump with a distance of 16.30 metres ahead of Rekelme Hunter, who was second with 15.09m and will also contest the event in Eugene.

Other World Under-20 Championships-bound athletes were also in action, with Nkosana Johnson winning the men’s shot put with 17.21m, ahead of Kamari Kennedy, who threw 17.09m for second, while Able Mills won the women’s shot put with a heave of 15.88m.