Story by: Clayton Clarke
Emmanuel Callender sped to victory in the men’s 200-metre race at the Occidental Invitational in Los Angeles, USA on Saturday. Callender was first to the line in 20.81 seconds. The 2008 CAC championships 200m gold medallist beat his HIS teammate Ahmad Rashad into second (20.90) with Jamaican Kawayne Fisher in third (21.14). In the 100m, Callender had to settle for second behind Rashad. The American snatched the gold in 10.21 with Callender in second 0.04 seconds behind. Fisher was third again in 10.36. Jehue Gordon finished third in the men’s 400m Hurdles in 50.11 seconds at the seventh Grand Prix Region at the Baie-Mahault Stadium in Guadeloupe on Saturday.
Gordon was beaten to the line by Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson and Angelo Taylor of the USA. Culson (2009 World Championships silver medallist) took the gold in 48.73 with Taylor (2000/2008 Olympic champion) in second in 49.77. Gordon, the reigning World Junior gold medallist, bettered the 50.11 clocking he set in taking the Falcon Games title in April 16. The 19-year-old has his sights set on this year’s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, from August 27 to September 4. At the 2009 edition Gordon set the track and field world on fire with his fourth place finish in a new world 17-year age-best of 48.26.
Rhonda Watkins was sixth in the women’s long jump with 6.12m. The 2006 World Junior champion achieved her best jump on her last attempt. Taking the gold was Ruky Abdulai of Canada with a leap of 6.53m. Durrell Busby’s University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee captured the overall title at the 2011 Horizon Leagues Outdoor Track and Field Championships which ended on Sunday in Indianapolis. Wisconsin took the men’s title for the eighth straight year with 156 points with Busby contributing with his win in the men’s javelin in 58.80m. He was in line for a second gold after setting a meet record in the 110m heats clocking 14.23. However, in the finals he was disqualified after false-starting. Wisconsin also took the women’s title, scoring 174 points.
Morgan State University’s men’s team finished third in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Championships at North Carolina A&T State University. Morgan State earned 72 points with Emmanuel Stewart contributing 20 after his victories in the men’s javelin (53.39) and discus (50.51) events. Stewart (2008 Carifta boys under-20 Discus champion) also earned All-MEAC First team honours. Morgan State’s ladies outfit was seventh with 50 points with Jeanelle Ovid taking bronze in the women’s high Jump. Ovid was named on the All-MEAC third team.