Elaine Thompson and Christopher Taylor the standouts at 2nd JAAAs All Comers Meet

Elaine Thompson delivered yet another brilliant performance at the National Stadium yesterday sending out a strong warning to rivals ahead of the National Senior Championships in just over a month. The rising sprint sensation out of UTech/MVP by way of Manchester High was again in awesome form as she spread-eagled the field to win the 200m in a personal best 22.37 (0.4 m/s) at the 2nd JAAAs All Comers Meet. Thompson who will turn 23 in late June had a previous best of 23.09 which she ran at a development meet in mid March.

The 2015 INTERCOL champion who shares the world lead over 100m (10.92) with American Jenna Prandini is now the joint fastest Jamaican over the 200m, equaling the 22.37 set by 2013 IAAF World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce in her 3rd place effort at the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge Meet in Kingston on May 9. Her time ranks her joint 5th with Fraser-Pryce in the world this year behind Allyson Felix (21.98), Shauna Miller (22.14) and the pair of Torie Bowie and Muriel Ahoure (22.29).

Shericka Jackson, also of UTech was 2nd to Thompson in her heat and 2nd overall with a time of 23.03. Natasha Morrison won her heat in 23.37 (1.4m/s) for 3rd overall. Other useful performances came from Sprintec’s Audra Segree 23.43 and Shimayra Williams of UTech 23.50 who were also in the heat won by the high-flying Thompson.

On the men’s side 2013 World Championship Silver medalist Warren Weir (20.55) had to be satisfied with 2nd after being beaten by Racers team-mate, American Terrel Cotton who won in a personal best 20.22 (1.2m/s). Quarter-miler Rusheen McDonald also recorded his best time over the half lap running 20.57 in the same heat for 3rd overall eclipsing the 20.68 he ran just over a month ago.

Calabar High School phenom Christopher Taylor again demonstrated that he is no ordinary athlete with another brilliant display, this time over 200m. Taylor who is preparing for the National Junior Trials and ultimately the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships in Colombia stopped the clock in a personal best 20.78 (1.8 m/s) to win his heat and the overall junior section.

‘Cubby’ as Taylor is affectionately called was coming off two brilliant displays at the Cayman Invitational the previous Saturday where he won the 400m in a record 46.06 and was also a member of the crack Calabar High School quartet (Class Two) which won their event in a blistering 40.30.

Nathon Allen, fresh from his first time appearance for Team Jamaica at the 2nd IAAF World Relays a few weeks ago won his heat in 20.97 (0.5 m/s) for 2nd overall ahead of 2015 ‘Champs’ quadruple Gold medalist and 2013 World Youth Champion Michael O’Hara who won his heat in 20.97 (1.3 m/s).

The 2014 Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist Janieve Russell of UTech was unchallenged in winning the 400m Hurdles in 56.52 ahead of Rhonda Whyte of GC Foster College 57.07 and National Youth representative Junelle Bromfield of STETHS with a very good 58.07. The men’s section was won by Ansert Whyte of Racers in a modest 50.23 ahead of 2015 INTERCOL Champion Andre Clarke of GC Foster College (50.48).