By Anthony Foster, trackalerts.com
CLERMONT, Florida – Trinidad & Tobago’s Olympian Kelly-Ann Baptiste sped to a world-leading and national record 10.84 seconds at the Star Athletics Sprint Series 1 meeting in Clermont, Florida on Saturday (5 June).
Supported by a 1.7 m/s wind, the 2003 World Youth bronze medallist eclipsed Carmelita Jeter’s previous world leading mark of 10.94 seconds done at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet on 1 May. The time also beat her previous national record of 10.94, which landed her the TnT national championship in 2009.
American Olympic sprint relay gold medallist, Dennis Mitchell, who is also the meet director, described the race. “She looked very strong and focused. She executed the race very well and technically it was the best I have seen from her,” added Mitchell, who also ran on two American World Championships 4×100m winning teams.
Americans Shalonda Solomon was second 10.90, beating her personal record of 11.04, and Alexadrea Anderson, third with 11.04
At this same meet in 2008, two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown recorded 10.88 seconds.
Now Mitchell, a individual bronze medallist from the 1992 Barcelona Olympic, has high hopes for this Star Athletics Sprint Series meeting.
“This meet is the fastest little meet in the world!!! I am also having another one (Star Athletics Sprint Series 2) next weekend June 12th,” he said. “I’m trying to grow this concept of sprints/hurdles only meets to give sprinters an opportunity to compete in a atmosphere just for them,” he added.