KINGSTON: Shericka Jackson ran the third fastest 200 metres of all time in 21.55 seconds to seal a sprint double at the Jamaican national trials for next month’s World Championships on Sunday.

The 27-year-old led coming off the corner and pulled clear down the straight to add the 200m crown to the 100m title she won on Friday. Elaine Thompson-Herah finished second in 22.05 with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce third in 22.14.

Only the late Florence Griffith Joyner, who set her long-standing world record of 21.34 seconds in 1988, and compatriot Thompson-Herah, who clocked 21.53 to seal the sprint double at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, have run faster.

“Honestly, I am shocked by the time,” Jackson who won bronze in the 100m in Tokyo, said. “I never expected to go that fast. I knew that I had something special in my legs but to run that fast. I’m just grateful.”

American-born Andrew Hudson won the men’s 200m in 20.10secs, beating 100m champion Yohan Blake’s 20.31 with Nigel Ellis third in 20.41.

Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment won the 110m hurdles final in 13.14 secs, taking charge late in the race after former World and Olympic champion Omar McLeod got off to a flying start.

Rasheed Broadbell was second in a season-best 13.20 with Orlando Bennett third in 13.28. McLeod, who hit the third hurdle, finished eighth.

Britany Anderson lived up to her status as favourite in the women’s 100m hurdles, crossing the line in 12.53 ahead of Tokyo bronze medallist Megan Tapper (12.60) and Danielle Williams (12.66).

Chris-Ann Gordon-Powell upset eight time national champion and Olympic finalist Natoya Goule-Topping in the women’s 800m, running 2:00.25 as Goule took second in 2:00.83 and Adelle Tracey was third in 2:01.18.

Candice McLeod returned a season best 50.29 to hold off defending champion Stephenie-Ann McPherson (50.49) and win her first national 400m crown. Charokee Young was third in 50.76.

Jevaughn Powell won the men’s 400m in 45.50 ahead of Nathon Allen in 45.64 and Anthony Cox 45.65.

In the field, 2015 World Championship bronze medallist O’Dayne Richards threw 19.58m to win his ninth shot put title.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022