BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, April 18, 2010
RAIN wreaked havoc on last evening’s third staging of the University of Technology Track and Field Classic as World 100m hurdles gold medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton pulled up with a hamstring injury at the National Stadium.
The rainy and windy conditions also had a negative effect on the times posted by many of Jamaica’s leading athletes, including former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Yohan Blake, Melaine Walker, Sherone Simpson and Shericka Williams.
Running in lane three, Foster-Hylton, who secured Jamaica’s first World Championships gold medal in the 100m hurdles in Berlin last summer, pulled up and crashed to the ground after 60 metres of the 100m.
The affable sprint hurdler, who was locked in a keen battle with MVP training partner Simpson, grabbed at her left hamstring on her way down.
Up to press time, MVP president Bruce James indicated that the seriousness of Foster-Hylton’s injury was unknown.
Olympic 100m silver medallist Simpson, who eventually won the race in 11.58 seconds, said she heard Foster-Hylton cry out before going down.
Schillonie Calvert of Racers was second in 11.90. World Indoor 60m finalist Carter won the men’s 100m in 10.24secs despite a massive negative head of (-5.0) ahead of Yohan Blake, 10.28.
Powell, who competed in the 200m, also complained of cramps during the event.
The World and Olympic 100m bronze medallist opened up a five-metre lead on the field coming off the corner before slowing to a jog to cross the finish line in 21.27 (wind -1.0 m/s).
Olympic and World Championship 400m hurdles gold medallist Melaine Walker shaked off an Achilles tendon injury to post 52.84 seconds to place second in the flat 400m behind MVP training partner Stephanie McPherson, who won in 52.48.
The men’s equivalent went to Olympic and World Championship semi-finalist Ricardo Chambers in a creditable 45.61secs in pouring rain.
Chambers, who shaved 1.21 seconds off the previous meet record of 46.82, expressed satisfaction with his performance, given the adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, a surprise appearance by double sprint world record-holder Usain Bolt in the men’s 4x100 ended in anti-climax due to a faulty baton pass between Mario Forsythe and Blake at the first exchange. The race went to UTech in 39.66secs followed by MVP, 40.05, and UTech Track Club, 40.92.
Beijing Olympic finalist Markino Buckley of MVP returned 50.49secs to win the men’s 400m hurdles in a new meet record.