Source: trinidadexpress.com | By Kwame Laurence
Kelly-Ann Baptiste captured the women's 100 metres title at the Reims international meet, in France, yesterday.
The Trinidad and Tobago track star got to the line in 11.11 seconds, for a comfortable cushion on second-placed Oludamola Osayomi (11.24), of Nigeria. Jamaica's Aleen Bailey (11.32) copped third spot.
Pre-race favourite, Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown, was disqualified for a false start.
Yesterday's race was only the third outing for Baptiste this season. She opened her 2011 campaign in April, in Arkansas, USA, where she won the 100m dash in 11.56 seconds.
The 24-year-old sprinter followed up with an impressive 10.94 run in finishing second to American Carmelita Jeter (10.86), at the Jamaica International Invitational, on May 7.
Baptiste (10.94) is currently fifth on the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) 2011 performance list. Jeter (10.70), Campbell-Brown (10.76), American Marshevet Myers (10.86) and Jamaican Kerron Stewart (10.87) are first, second, third and fourth, respectively.
T&T sprinters, Keston Bledman and Richard Thompson finished third and fifth, respectively, in yesterday's men's 100m dash. Bledman clocked 10.09 seconds, while Thompson got home in 10.17.
Antigua's Daniel Bailey topped the field in 10.05, beating American Justin Gatlin (10.08) into second spot. Gatlin's compatriot, Darvis Patton (10.15) was fourth.
And in the men's 200m, T&T's Rondel Sorrillo bagged bronze in 20.48 seconds. Panama's Alonso Edward--the half-lap silver medallist at the 2009 World Championships, in Berlin, Germany--emerged victorious in 20.28, edging Jamaican Mario Forsythe (20.29) into second spot.