Yohan Blake (l) upsets Usain Bolt in the 100m at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston (© AFP / Getty Images)
Yohan Blake and ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce sounded the strongest of warnings ahead of the Olympic Games in London with stunning displays at the Supreme Ventures-sponsored Jamaica Trials on Friday (29) night.
Both delivered world leading times, Blake 9.75, which is a personal best and stadium record and Fraser-Pryce 10.70, a new Jamaican record.
Fraser-Pryce, the defending Olympic champion, blasted home to become to fourth fastest woman ever, behind only Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49), Carmelita Jeter (10.64) and Marion Jones (10.65). Veronica Campbell-Brown, who came on very strong towards the end, got a seasonal best of 10.82, while Kerron Stewart was third in 10.94. Sherone Simpson was fourth in 11.01.
Fraser-Pryce, who was smiling for most part after the race, said she was very pleased with the night’s work. "I came out here to do my best. I did my best. It worked out. I'm going to the Olympics," she told journalists.
Campbell-Brown, who gave the champion congratulatory hugs, was also pleased with her work. "I'm just thankful for what I have today. I got my spot in the 100 metres. I'm happy for that," Campbell-Brown said.
However, Blake’s time, which puts him fourth on the all-time 100m list, behind Usain Bolt 9.58, Tyson Gay 9.69 and Asafa Powell 9.72, was the talking point as the crowd of more than 16,000 spectators made their way from the stadium.
In his post race interview, Blake said, "I am happy with becoming the national champion. I won the World Championships last year, now the national championships, so I now go into the Olympic Games."
Olympic champion and World record holder Bolt, who lost his first 100m race in almost two years (other than his high profile false start disqualification at last year's World Championships), took second in 9.82, with Asafa Powell coming home third in 9.88 and Micheal Frater clocking 9.94 for fourth.
Said Bolt: "I had trouble getting out, but I kept feeling like I could not give up."
Leford Green won the men’s 400m Hurdles, but veteran Danny McFarlane missed the chance at representing his country at another Olympic Games.
Green delivered a big seasonal best of 48.88 to take his third straight title – improving his previous season's best mark of 50.53.
Josef Robertson was second in 49.53 with Roxroy Cato taking third in 49.65. McFarlane, the 2004 silver medallist and a fourth place finisher in Beijing, four years ago, was fourth in 49.69.
The women’s race saw reigning Olympic champion Melanie Walker winning in 54.77. Kaleise Spencer was second in 55.04 with Nickiesha Wilson taking third in 55.50.
In the women's Discus Throw final, national record holder Allison Randall threw 55.92m to win ahead of Kellion Knibb's 51.02m, a national junior record, and Danniel Thomas 50.44m.
In the men's Triple Jump Wilbert Walker leapt 15.94m to win ahead of Nicholas Thomas' 15.69m and Damon McLean 15.68m. Todea-Kaye Willis with 6.37m beat Chanice Porter (6.36) and Francine Simpson (6.33m) in the women's Long Jump.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
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Both delivered world leading times, Blake 9.75, which is a personal best and stadium record and Fraser-Pryce 10.70, a new Jamaican record.
Fraser-Pryce, the defending Olympic champion, blasted home to become to fourth fastest woman ever, behind only Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49), Carmelita Jeter (10.64) and Marion Jones (10.65). Veronica Campbell-Brown, who came on very strong towards the end, got a seasonal best of 10.82, while Kerron Stewart was third in 10.94. Sherone Simpson was fourth in 11.01.
Fraser-Pryce, who was smiling for most part after the race, said she was very pleased with the night’s work. "I came out here to do my best. I did my best. It worked out. I'm going to the Olympics," she told journalists.
Campbell-Brown, who gave the champion congratulatory hugs, was also pleased with her work. "I'm just thankful for what I have today. I got my spot in the 100 metres. I'm happy for that," Campbell-Brown said.
However, Blake’s time, which puts him fourth on the all-time 100m list, behind Usain Bolt 9.58, Tyson Gay 9.69 and Asafa Powell 9.72, was the talking point as the crowd of more than 16,000 spectators made their way from the stadium.
In his post race interview, Blake said, "I am happy with becoming the national champion. I won the World Championships last year, now the national championships, so I now go into the Olympic Games."
Olympic champion and World record holder Bolt, who lost his first 100m race in almost two years (other than his high profile false start disqualification at last year's World Championships), took second in 9.82, with Asafa Powell coming home third in 9.88 and Micheal Frater clocking 9.94 for fourth.
Said Bolt: "I had trouble getting out, but I kept feeling like I could not give up."
Leford Green won the men’s 400m Hurdles, but veteran Danny McFarlane missed the chance at representing his country at another Olympic Games.
Green delivered a big seasonal best of 48.88 to take his third straight title – improving his previous season's best mark of 50.53.
Josef Robertson was second in 49.53 with Roxroy Cato taking third in 49.65. McFarlane, the 2004 silver medallist and a fourth place finisher in Beijing, four years ago, was fourth in 49.69.
The women’s race saw reigning Olympic champion Melanie Walker winning in 54.77. Kaleise Spencer was second in 55.04 with Nickiesha Wilson taking third in 55.50.
In the women's Discus Throw final, national record holder Allison Randall threw 55.92m to win ahead of Kellion Knibb's 51.02m, a national junior record, and Danniel Thomas 50.44m.
In the men's Triple Jump Wilbert Walker leapt 15.94m to win ahead of Nicholas Thomas' 15.69m and Damon McLean 15.68m. Todea-Kaye Willis with 6.37m beat Chanice Porter (6.36) and Francine Simpson (6.33m) in the women's Long Jump.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS
