‘I really worked hard’ - Dockery breaks 11-second barrier at Lone Star Grand Prix 

There were four Jamaican successes at yesterday's Lone Star Grand Prix meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet held at the E.B. Cushing Stadium at Texas A&M University.

Competing in very hot and humid conditions, former Lacovia High sprinter Sabrina Dockery led the way. Dockery got a very good start in the women’s 100 metres and held on for the win, clocking a new personal best of 10.92 seconds, her first time going under the 11-second barrier.

There was also a personal best for third-place finisher Jodean Williams of Jamaica with 10.97 seconds, the same time recorded by second-place finisher Audrey Leduc of Canada. Neisha Burgher ended seventh in 11.27 seconds, while Briana Williams was eighth in 11.32.

Both Dockery and Williams became the 10th and 11th Jamaican women to breach the 11-second barrier in the event this season. Dockery, who screamed for joy when she saw her time, was very excited.

"Thank God. I really worked hard for this," she stated in a post-race interview.

Earlier, sprint hurdler Demisha Roswell picked up the first win for Jamaica on the day after winning the women's 100m hurdles in a season’s best 12.53 seconds. Ackera Nugent finished second in a season's best 12.61, with third going to the United States' Rayniah Jones in 12.62.

Jamaica's other wins came through Navasky Anderson in the men's 800 metres and Romaine Beckford in the men's high jump.

Anderson, coming off a second-place finish a week earlier at the Under Armour meet at the IMG Academy in Florida, led from start to finish to capture the event in 1:46.33, ahead of Abraham Alvarado of Mexico, who was second in 1:46.75, and Sean Nolan of the United States, third in 1:46.90.

Beckford, who in midweek finished third in the men's high jump at the Rome Diamond League, captured the event after clearing 2.25 metres.

Stacy-Ann Williams finished second in the women's 400m, while Kelly-Ann Beckford did the same in the women's 800 metres. Oblique Seville was third in the men's 100 metres.

World Championships 4x400 metres relay silver medallist Williams ran on strongly in the women's 400 metres to finish second in a season's best 49.80 seconds, behind winner Ella Onojuvwevwo of Nigeria in 49.47 seconds. Alexis Holmes of the United States was third in 50.42 seconds.

National women's 800 metres champion Kelly-Ann Beckford, for the second week in a row, went under two minutes in the women's 800 metres. Beckford, who won at the Under Armour meet in a then personal best of 1:58.88, finished second in 1:58.46. Shafiqua Maloney of St Vincent and the Grenadines won in a season’s best and facility record 1:57.34, while Adelle Tracey of Jamaica was fifth in 1:59.24.

Competing in a positive wind of 3.8 metres per second, World 100 metres champion Oblique Seville had to settle for third in the men's 100 metres in 9.91 seconds, the same time recorded by second-place finisher Andre De Grasse of Canada. Trayvon Bromell of the United States won in 9.85.

Olympic Games 200-metre champion Gabby Thomas of the United States produced a world-leading time of 21.70 seconds to capture the women's 200m in a facility record. Kayla White, also of the United States, was second in 22.07 seconds, while Favour Ofili of Nigeria was third in 22.15 seconds. Jamaica's Ashanti Moore ended sixth in 22.53 seconds.

World 400 metres champion in 2023, Antonio Watson, finished fifth in the men's 400m in 45.17 seconds, with Roshawn Clarke, ninth in 46.17. Malik James-King was seventh in the men's 400m hurdles in 49.23, while Tyrece Hyman was ninth in 56.79. 

Adrian Kerr was eighth in the men's 200m in 20.62 seconds, while Demar Francis was ninth in 20.79. Andrenette Knight finished fifth in the women's 400m hurdles in a season's best 55.25 seconds and Shiann Salmon was seventh in 55.58.