Thompson-Herah clocks first win of comeback

Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah continued her comeback from injury by clocking a season’s best 7.20 seconds to win the women’s 60m invitational at the SW Isaac Henry Development Meet at the National Stadium yesterday.

It was only Thompson-Herah’s second race of the season, coming a week after her return at the Camperdown Classic, following a 19-month absence because of an Achilles injury. She finished second in that outing in 7.24 behind Lavanya Williams, who won in 7.17.

Thompson-Herah reversed that result yesterday, producing a sharp start and powering to a comfortable victory. Williams was second in 7.28, while Anthonique Strachan was third in 7.39.

Thompson-Herah is the first female sprinter to win the Olympic 100m/200m double at consecutive Games, achieving the feat at Rio 2016 and successfully defending both titles at Tokyo 2020.

In the men’s equivalent, Rasheed Foster, competing unattached, sped to 6.68 to take top honours. National junior 100m record holder Bouwahjgie Nkrumie was second overall after winning his heat in 6.70, with Sachin Dennis third in 6.71.

Former national 400m champion Deandre Watkin delivered a meet record 20.84 to win the men’s 200m invitational. Zachary Wallace (21.35) finished second, followed by Jhordane Morgan (21.46).

Former national junior standout Serena Cole captured the women’s 200m in 24.61, ahead of Jasmin Brooks (25.72) and Shanniel Dawson (26.26).

In the high school section, Hydel High School’s Aaliyah Mullings won the girls’ Class One 400m hurdles in 1:01.36, finishing ahead of teammate Anneika Carnegie, while St Jago High School’s Latanya Dixon was third.

Kingston College’s Jordan Taylor took the boys’ event in 53.42, just ahead of Denbigh High School’s Kingsley Hanson (53.48), with teammate Eshanee Porter third.

Denbigh’s Chanton White later won the Boys’ Class One 400m in 48.40. Jamaica College athletes Jaden Clement (49.70) and Yohance Carty (49.73) were second and third, respectively.

Hydel’s Sasha-Shunta Hemmings claimed the Girls’ 400m in 56.57, ahead of St Jago’s Shavone Williams (57.59) and Sherica Wint (58.27).

In the Boys’ Class 1 200m, Camperdown High School’s Deequan Maragh produced a meet record 21.35. Cumberland High School’s Du’Shawn Daley was second in 22.53, while Kellits High School’s Janeil Walter finished third in 22.70.