LONDON, England, July 28, CMC – Sprint stars Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson led a triple triumph for Jamaican athletes at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix track and field meeting on Friday evening.
Powell advertised his clear superiority over the current cluster of sprinters on the European circuit with a fine 100-metre win in 9.91 seconds, while Simpson produced another sizzling win in the women’s 100 in 11.00 seconds.
Trecia Smith, the Jamaican World Championship triple jump gold medallist, revisited some of her US Collegiate diversifying days by switching to the long jump for a victory at 6.63 metres.
The 23-year-old Powell stretched his unbeaten run this season to 12 with his ninth sub-10 clocking as he shrugged off challenges from Americans Leonard Scott (10.01) and Shawn Crawford (10.04). Jamaican Dwight Thomas was fifth in 10.14 seconds.
In spite of a 1.2 metres per second negative wind, Simpson still clocked a quick time as she topped ex-Olympic champion from the USA Marion Jones (11.05). Bahamian Debbie Ferguson placed fifth in 11.32 seconds.
Rising American star Tyson Gay beat a quality 200-metre men’s field to win in 19.84 seconds, chased by fellow Americans Xavier Carter (19.98), and Wallace Spearmon (20.11).
Jamaicans Usain Bolt (20.54) and Omar Brown (20.79) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Smith, a two-time (1997 and 1999) NCAA Division One long jump champion for Pittsburgh, returned to the event for a victory over Britain’s Kelly Sotherton (6.52m) and Jamaican Elva Goulbourne (6.52m). Bahamian veteran Jackie Edwards was eighth at 6.27 metres.
There were several other top-three results for Jamaicans at the meet.
In the men’s 400 metres, Michael Blackwood’s 45.14 was good enough for third behind Americans Jeremy Wariner (43.99) and Andrew Rock (44.81).
In the 400 hurdles, Kemel Thompson was also third in 48.83 seconds, chasing Americans Kerron Clement (48.63) and James Carter (48.79). Danny McFarlane, who won silver for Jamaica at the Athens Olympics, finished fifth in 49.52 seconds.
Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling, of the Bahamas, was a late scratch in the women’s 400 metres and Jamaica-born American Sanya Richards sped to victory in a world-leading 49.05 seconds.
Jamaicans Novlene Williams (50.24) and Shericka Williams (50.44) placed second and third respectively, and Grenada’s Hazel-Ann Regis, fresh from a silver medal at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia this week, finished sixth in 51.89.
Jamaica’s 800-metre ace Kenia Sinclair clocked one minute 58.76 seconds for third in the women’s 800 metres behind Kenya’s Commonwealth Games champion Janeth Jepkosgei (1:58.54) and Britain’s Rebecca Lyne (1:58.69).
Jamaicans Michelle Burgher (57.39) and Allison Beckford (57.43) finished sixth and eighth respectively in the women’s 400-metre hurdles that American Dominique Darden won in 54.88 seconds.
Former Jamaica representative Germaine Mason placed second in the high jump at 2.31 metres, behind Sweden’s Stefan Holm (2.34m).
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