Roshawn Clarke and Ackeem Blake delivered standout performances at Velocity Fest 16 on Saturday at Jamaica College's Ashenheim Stadium, securing victories in the men’s 400m and 100m events, respectively.
Clarke, Jamaica’s national 400m hurdles record holder, posted a personal best of 44.98 seconds, dipping under 45 seconds for the first time in the flat 400m. He held off reigning national champion Deandre Watkin of Elite Performance (45.59) and Javier Brown of Swept Track Club (45.62).
Shana Kaye Anderson of UTECH won the women’s 400m in 52.20 seconds, ahead of Rushell Clayton of Elite Performance (52.38) and Alliah Baker (54.12).
Ackeem Blake (left) beats Zharnel Hughes in the men’s 100m.
Blake of Dynamic Speed clocked a fast 10.06 seconds in his season-opening 100m race, finishing first in the A final. He beat Great Britain sprinter Zharnel Hughes of Racers, who recorded 10.14 seconds, and Adrian Kerr of Motorcade Track Club, who finished third in 10.29 seconds.
Tobi Amusan, the 2022 World Championships gold medallist in the women’s 100m hurdles and world record holder with a time of 12.12 seconds, secured victory in the women’s 100m with a time of 11.28 seconds. Now training in Jamaica with Racers Track Club, Amusan triumphed ahead of Serena Cole of MVP, who finished second in 11.45 seconds. Anthonique Strachan claimed third place with a time of 11.46 seconds.
Tobi Amusan (left) beats Serena Cole (centre) in the women's 100m.
Olympic 100m finalist Oblique Seville topped the men’s 200m A final with a season’s best of 20.53 seconds. Seville finished ahead of Javari Thomas of Dynamic Speed (20.82) and Nigel Ellis of Elite Performance (21.13).
Barbadian Sada Williams claimed victory in the women's 200m, clocking 23.10 seconds. She edged out MVP's Tia Clayton, who finished second in 23.11 seconds, and Kemba Nelson of Elite Performance, who took third in 23.42 seconds.
In field events, Fedrick Dacres of Reckless Control won the men’s discus with a throw of 62.36 metres, beating Chad Wright of Legacy (60.60m) and Tio-Josh Mowatt (52.07m).
Shawn-D Thompson of SprinTec earned victories in both the long and triple jump.
Thompson posted a season’s best of 8.02 metres in the long jump, defeating David Tomlinson of GC Foster (7.50m) and Aubrey Allen of Swept Track Club (7.36m). He later won the triple jump with a personal best of 16.61 metres, finishing ahead of Chevaughn Parkinson (14.66m) and Savaughney McLeod (13.84m), both from GC Foster.
