Tina Clayton breaks the Jamaican U20 100m record in Kingston (© McNamee Sports Media)
World U20 champion Tina Clayton ran a national U20 record to win the women's 100m title at the Jamaican U20 Championships in Kingston on Friday (24).
The 17-year-old registered her first sub-11-second clocking to supplant Briana Williams as the Jamaican U20 record-holder and climb to fifth on the world U20 all-time list after clocking 10.96 (1.0m/s).
“It’s a great feeling getting a new personal best,” said Clayton, whose previous best was the 11.09 that landed her the world U20 title in Nairobi, Kenya, last year.
“This just motivates me to continue training hard, be disciplined and listen to my coach.”
In another thrilling final, as athletes target August's World Athletics U20 Championships Cali 22, Sandrey Davison secured back-to-back domestic U20 titles when he made a strong rally through the last 40 metres to win the men’s equivalent in 10.20 (0.7m/s), a personal best.
“I almost fell coming out of the blocks while trying to get my drive phase correct,” said the world U20 4x100m silver medallist. “But I regrouped quickly and told myself that I’m going to finish strong and be victorious.”
Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, who dominated most of the race before Davison overtook him at the finish line, registered a personal best of 10.22.
A confident Davison duly completed the sprint double two days later, running a lifetime best of 20.84 in the 200m (-0.1 m/s).
Kerrica Hill continued the impressive form she displayed at the Jamaican high school championships by establishing an U18 and U20 world lead in the women’s 100m hurdles final. In wet conditions, Hill was flawless in negotiating the barriers in a lifetime best of 12.98 (1.5m/s).
“I feel pretty good. I was not expecting the personal best because of the weather,” said Hill. “I’ve been putting in the work and now I’m focused on going to Cali and representing well.”
Roshawn Clarke solidified his status as Jamaica’s best one-lap hurdler when he blitzed the field to win the event in a lifetime best of 49.39. Despite the achievement, Clarke believes there is room for improvement.
“Today’s race wasn’t perfect, my execution could have been better,” said the CARIFTA champion.
Clarke, who sits second on the world list, added: “I was expecting a particular time, but I didn’t get it, so I’m not pleased about that, but I’m still grateful for the PB and will work to get it right in Colombia.”
Elsewhere, world U20 silver medallist Jaydon Hibbert opted to compete against the seniors in the men’s triple jump. The 17-year-old maintained his unbeaten streak this season, bounding out to 16.41m (-1.2m/s) to win his first senior title.
In the discus ring, Cedricka Williams shattered the national U20 record in the women’s discus after launching the implement out to 56.21m in the fourth round. Shanice Love had established the previous record (54.72m) in 2016.
Kobe Lawrence upstaged favourite Christopher Young to win the men’s U20 discus throw with 62.67m, a personal best. Young, who was the world leader until March with 61.66m, produced his best effort of 58.47m in the final round to claim second.
Noel Francis for World Athletics
