Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Kelly Ann Baptiste continued her build-up to the World Athletic Championships with an impressive second place finish in the women’s 100m at the Jamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium, in Kingston on Saturday night.  The national sprint record holder got to the line in an outstanding 10.94 seconds against a stellar field oozing with quality. Baptiste’s time is her fifth sub-11 clocking and is topped by her 10.84 national record run last year. Taking the gold was defending champion Carmelita Jeter of the United States who sped to world leading and meet record time of 10.86.

Baptiste got off to a quick start and was ahead but Jeter pulled ahead to win and bettered the previous meet record of 10.92. Baptiste was ahead of Jamaica’s Olympic silver medallists Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart who were third and fourth, both in 11.07. Also seeing the back of the 2010 Continental Cup winner was 2006 World Junior 100m bronze medallist Carrie Russell (Jamaica) and 2009 World championships relay gold medalists Aleen Bailey and Simon Facey. Baptiste’s time is a big improvement on her previous 2011 season’s best of 11.56.

2009 World Championships 400m bronze medallist Renny Quow also copped silver in Kingston, taking the runner up spot in the one lap event in 45.43.  Quow employed his trade mark strong finishing kick to good use to zoom past the field in the final 100m but was denied by Chris Brown of Bahamas who took the gold in 45.37. Quow was well behind midway into the race. He made his bid for glory with less than 80m from the line but Browne, the 2010 World Indoor champion, edged Quow at the finish. The time is a new season’ best for the 2006 World Junior champion improving on his 45.69 clocking achieved in  Texas on April 23.

Early race leader Jermaine Gonzalez of Jamaica faded to third (45.52). Double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson was beaten into seventh in the men’s 100m in 10.16. Yohan Blake won in wind assisted 9.80 seconds ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey (9.94) and American Mike Rodgers (9.96). Blake got off to a clean start and powered to victory much to the delight of 20,000 Jamaican fans. Ayanna Alexander was runner-up in the women’s triple jump with 13.55m. Taking to gold was Jamaican Kimberly Williams (14.25m). Aleesha Barber was fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles in a wind assisted time of 13.34 seconds behind American Tiki James (12.88), Jamaican Vonette Dixon (12.98) and another American Candice Davis (13.11) while Jamaal James was fifth in the men’s 800m in 1:51:64.

Jamaicans Kenia St Clair and Nickel Ashmeade posted world leading times. St Clair captured the women’s 800m in 1:58:41. The time is also a new meet record. Ashmeade surprised a strong field in the men’s 200m taking gold in 19.95. Running out lane eight, the 2008 World junior silver medallist dismissed the favourites Steve Mullings of Jamaica (20.15) and American Wallace Spearmon (20.18).
Former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell was in contention at the 100m mark but faded to last. After the race Powell said he eased up because he felt some discomfort in his hamstring muscles. Adam Nelson (USA) won the men’s shot put in meet record of 21.24m.

Selected results

Pos    Name    Country    Time/Distance

WOMEN’S 100M (wind:+1.9 m/s)
1    Carmelita Jeter    USA    10.86 sec (Meet record)
2    Kelly-Ann Baptiste    T&T    10.94
3    Sherone Simpson    JAM    11.07
4    Kerron Stewart    JAM    11.07

MEN’S 100M (wind: +2.2m/s)
1    Yohan Blake    JAM    9.80 sec
2    Daniel Bailey    ANT    9.94
3    Mike Rodgers    USA    9.96
4    Michael Frater    JAM    9.98
7    Richard Thompson    T&T    10.16

MEN’S 400M
1    Chris Brown    BAH    45.37 sec
2    Renny Quow    T&T    45.43
3    Jermaine Gonzalez    JAM    45.52
4    Calvin Smith Jr    USA    45.56

WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP
1    Kimberly Williams    JAM    14.25m (-1.2m/s)
2    Ayanna Alexander    T&T    13.55m (-0.3)

WOMEN’S 100M HURDLES (wind: +2.6m/s)
1    Tiki James    USA    12.88
2    Vonette Dixon    JAM    12.98
3    Candice Davis    USA    13.11
4    Aleesha Barber    T&T    13.34

MEN’S 800M
1    Khadevis Robinson    USA    1:46:25
2    Duane Solomon    JAM    1:46:37
3    Karjuan Williams    USA    1:47:26
4    Alwin Sappleton    JAM    1:49:51
5    Jamal James    TT    1:49:51