KINGSTON, June 24 - Sherone Simpson clocked 10.82sec to win the women’s 100m at the Jamaican athletics championships, the fastest time in the world in two years.
Simpson’s time was the fastest over the distance since Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria ran 10.77 on June 19, 2004.
I felt good in the race. I am very happy,'' said Simpson who became the second-fastest Jamaican behind Merlene Ottey, who now represents Slovenia (10.74). Simpson got off to a prefect start and separated herself from the field as early as the 30m mark. She looked very easy throughout, even across the line, as she beat her previous best of 10.97 in a 0.7m/sec headwind. I was surprised when I finished and saw the time,’’ Simpson said. ``I came here to work on my 100m, because my last two races were very poor.’’
Simpson improved on the previous 2006 world leading time of 10.99 run by compatriot Veronica Campbell in Carson, California, in May.
Simpson dazzles with 10.82 world 100m lead – Jamaican Champs, Day 2
Sunday 25 June 2006
Kingston, Jamaica - Sherone Simpson was in blazing form on the second day of the Jamaican National Track & Field Championships, racing to a world season leading 100m time, at the National Stadium on Saturday (24).
Simpson, the Commonwealth Games 200m champion, sped to victory in 10.82 seconds, the best since Bulgaria’s Ivet Lalova ran 10.77 in 2004. In doing so, the 21 year-old talent became the second fastest Jamaican and the world’s joint 11th fastest woman ever.
Simpson said: “I was surprised when I finished and saw the time.”
Sherone Simpson (JAM)
(Getty Images)
Running into a negative headwind of 0.7, Simpson executed very well from start to finish to secure her first national title. She broke away from the field at the 30m mark, at which stage, a sub-11 seconds, looked a likely time. The Olympic Games sprint relay gold medallist, Simpson, maintained her form and there was no surprise when she erased her previous best mark of 10.97.
On course for sprint double
When asked if she was happy with her execution, she was quick to say, “yes, definitely, definitely … after I saw the replay I am pretty satisfied,” said Simpson who will be chasing the sprint double on Sunday (25).
Sherone Simpson (JAM)
(Errol Anderson - The Sporting Image)
“I felt good in the race. I am very happy,” added Simpson who became the second fastest Jamaican behind Merlene Ottey, who now represents Slovenia (10.74).
Earlier in the semi-finals, Simpson blew away the field and eased 10 metres towards the line to finish in 11.08 seconds.
“I came here to work on my 100m, because my last two races were very poor,” she said.
Michael Frater (l) - 10.18 - with Winston Smith ® at JAM Champs
(Sporting Eagle)
Jamaica World Youth bronze medallist Schillonie Calvert, who ran a personal best 11.21 in the semi-finals, returned to finish second in the final in 11.29.
Calvert said she was happy to run against Simpson. "I am very proud of myself to know that I was in that race with Sherone Simpson who raced to a world-leading time.”
Frater takes men’s dash
Danny McFarlane on is way to 48.47 win at JAM champs
(Sporting Eagle)
Meanwhile, World Championships silver medallist Michael Frater, won the men’s event in 10.18 seconds, beating training partners Nesta Carter (10.26) and Mario Forsythe (10.29).
“A win is a win, so I am ok with that,” said Frater after the race. “I would have liked to run faster, but I did not technically execute the race I wanted to run,” he added while saying the ‘below par’ field did not give him the chance.
“With better competition I believe I would have run faster,” he added.
McFarlane’s solid 48.47 secures victory over Thompson
Olympic Games silver medallist Danny McFarlane regained his national 400m hurdles title with a workman like 48.47 seconds win over Kemel Thompson (48.61) and Gregory Little (49.45).
McFarlane said, after losing out last year due to injury, his aim was to regain his title this year. “This year I made sure prepared myself to come back and be the national champion,” he said.
In the women’s 400m Hurdles, Melaine Walker secured her first national title in 55.10 ahead of teenager Kaleise Spencer (56.01) and Shevon Stoddart (56.24).
Jamaican Shot record
In the field, Central American & Caribbean Championships champion Dorain Scott broke the Jamaica Shot Put record when he hurled the shot 20.33 metres.
Scott, who beat his previous mark of 20.21, was happy with his performance, which got the better Jason Morgan ( 17.04m) and Ricardo Page (14.96m). “I am pleased … I wanted to throw better, because I threw better in practice, but I am pleased, I’m pleased with it,” he said. “I am just using these Championships as my start off meet for the outdoor season,” said Scott, who previously threw 19.75m this season.
Sinclair successful at 1500
Commonwealth Games 800m silver medallist Kenia Sinclair won the women’s 1500m in 4:19.70. Zara Northover (15.66m) won the women’s Shot Put, while Andrea Linton (13.07m) took the women’s Triple Jump in the absence of World champion Trecia Smith.
Highlights expected on final day…
Joint World 100m record holder Asafa Powell is expected to start favourite in the men’s 200m, which is set for Sunday afternoon (25). Ricardo Williams, Marvin Anderson and Ainsley Waugh should also start.
Two top class 400m races are also expected on Sunday. Ricardo Chambers, the fastest Jamaican this season, and reigning champion Shericka Williams will start favourites in their respectively men’s and women’s finals. Both athletes, Chambers, the NCAA silver medallist, and Williams, easily won their semi-final races in 45.15 and 51.16 respectively.
However, while Chambers led home Jermaine Gonzales (45.83 ), Leford Green (45.86), Sanjay Ayre (46.06) and Davian Clarke (46.18), Williams trailed Novlene Williams’s season best 50.64.
Commonwealth Games champion and World Championships bronze medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Lacena Golding-Clarke, Vonette Dixon and Andrea Bliss are down for the women’s 100m Hurdles final.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
Note Asafa is running the 200m- a good decision so soon after the WR run in Gateshead
That’s one incredible time by Simpson. Lalova’s 10.77 was discussed here and found irregular.
No other woman ran faster since Marion Jones’ 10.78 Berlin 2000!
Not to mention her 22.00 - when last ran a woman under 22?!
Looked it up: quite interesting to sum up the all time sub 22 200m runs so far:
USA 9
GDR 8
JAM 4
CZE 1
FRA 1
RUS 1
Even if obviously flying start it has been accepted by statisticans… Appart Lalovas 10.77, last time a woman ran faster than Sherone was Marion Jones in Sydney.
Last time a woman ran under 22 was also Jones in Sydney!
PJ correct like always - Jones’ Sydney run was 3 weeks after her Berlin performance… 