Staff Reporter.
File Photo.
Nigerian’s 100m hurdles world record holder Tobi Amusan stole the spotlight at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational on Saturday (11 May).
Amusan ran a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds in Kingston to win from home favourite and reigning world champion Danielle Williams (12.46) with USA’s Christina Clemens third in 12.54s.
The women’s 100m belonged to another African, Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, who was the only athlete inside 11 seconds. The sprinter from Cote d’Ivoire posted the third-fastest time in the world this year, 10.91, to beat Jamaica’s Krystal Sloley (11.09) into second place.
Former 100m world champions Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman came into the meet looking to build on their early season form in the men’s 200m.
But Anguilla-born British sprinter Zharnel Hughes had other ideas as he won the half-lap sprint in a season’s best 19.96. Kerley was second in 20.17 with Coleman finishing down in fifth in 20.46.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith won gold in the 200m, clocked 22.51, pipping Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbai in second and Jamaica’s Lanae-Tava Thomas in third.
Asher-Smith, a 200m world champion in 2019, will be hoping to add to her two Olympic 4x100m relay bronzes at the Paris Games this summer.
“I’m in really good shape so I was hoping to get a quicker time today,” said Asher-Smith.
“Clearly I’ve got some stuff that I’ve got to work on so I’m going to go back to Austin [Texas] and work on them, but I’m happy to have won here in Jamaica.”
In the men’s 200m, Zharnel Hughes made it a British double by taking gold in 19.96, in front of American Fred Kerley and France’s Pablo Mateo. And Britain’s Matt Hudson-Smith won gold in the 400m, finishing in 44.69 before American Matthew Boling and Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.