Usain Bolt wins the 2013 Jamaican 100m title in 9.94 (© Anthony Foster)
Usain Bolt and Kerron Stewart won the 100m finals, while Asafa Powell failed to make a national team for the first time in 10 years as action continued at the Jamaican Championships on Friday (21).
Despite an average start, Bolt found himself in front after 60m and then slowed down across the line, winning in 9.94 into a -1.2m/s headwind.
“Trials is always about making the team,” Bolt was quick to point out. “It’s at the (world) championships it really matters.”
As the reigning World 200m champion, his place on the team for Moscow was already assured. Bolt’s victory here in the 100m means he will contest both sprint events and the relay at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
He could not avoid the question of what he feels about Tyson Gay’s world-leading 9.75 at the US Championships, but Bolt quickly told journalists: “I have [previously] run 9.63, 9.58, so I have set the standard already.
“It was all about getting through it injury free and that’s what I had done,” said Bolt. “I have a lot more things to work on, my start and my drive phase need some more work.”
Bolt crossed the line ahead of training partner Kemar Bailey-Cole, who ran 9.98, and Nickel Ashmeade (9.99). Nesta Carter, the only man to dip under 10 seconds in the semis with 9.97 into a headwind, finished fourth in 10.14 while Powell, who went to his first World Championships in 2003, was seventh in 10.22.
“I have to think positive, I can’t let this get me down,” said Powell when asked about not being in Moscow.
“I didn’t make the top three for Moscow, but I will still be competing. I was not fit to run the rounds.”
In the women’s short sprint, Stewart was the only woman under 11 seconds, running a season’s best of 10.96. Sherone Simpson finished second in 11.03 and Schillonie Calvert was third in 11.07. Sheri-Ann Brooks got the fourth automatic relay spot with 11.14.
“It was a good time, because I had not dipped under 11 seconds all season, but I knew it was in me. All I had to do was to put a good race together,” said Stewart.
In the men’s 400m Hurdles, Olympic finalist Leford Green won in 49.20 ahead of Annsert Whyte in 49.30 with Isa Phillips third in 49.59.
“Today was a better executed race, but I am still working my hurdling technique,” said Green.
Ristananna Tracey won the women’s event with 54.52 ahead of Danielle Dowie 54.94, a personal best, and Nickeisha Wilson, the same time for third.
Francine Simpson won the women's Long Jump with a leap of 6.35m over Todea-Kay Willis (6.21m). National record-holder Allison Randall threw 58.97m to take the women’s Discus over 17-year-old Gleneve Grange (52.95m). With 16.40m, Wilbert Walker won the men’s Triple Jump.
Chante Roberts (4:39.37) and Ryan Lawrence (3:51.60) took the women’s and men’s 1500m titles while Kemoy Campbell missed the World Championships 5000m ‘B’ standard with 13:43.20.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
