Merlene Ottey (right) getting the better of Tayna Lawrence (centre) in heat one of the women's 100 metres. Astia Walker (left) was third. The winning time was 11.09 seconds.
A HAPPY to be home Merlene Ottey upstaged her younger rivals at the National Stadium last night to register the fastest time in the heats of the women's 100 metres at the National Senior Athletic Championships.
The 40-year-old sprint queen clocked a season-best 11.09 seconds in heat one then issued a warning to the rest of the world that she was just warming up.
"I had problems at the start because it's a new starting block but tomorrow (Friday) I hope to get back the old one," Ottey said after her race. She added that in the next six week she was hoping to get below 11 seconds.
"Right now I am thankful that I have gotten the opportunity to compete here again and to represent my people," Ottey said.
Ottey who is bidding to qualify for her sixth Olympic Games had to fight off a persistent challenge from Florida-based Tayna Lawrence who was second in 11.18.
Defending national champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie had the next best time, 11.21, in winning heat 3 ahead of Beverly McDonald 11.23 and Elva Goulbourne 11.30.
Teenage sensation Veronica Campbell ran away with the second of the three heats clocking 11.30 with the seasoned Merlene Frazer second in 11.46 and Aleen Bailey third in 11.52.
The men's 100 metres heats also produced some impressive performances. Chris Williams, one of the fastest men in the world this year over 200 metres, was the top Jamaican with 10.19 in heat 2. The fastest time was registered by guest runner Kim Collins of St. Kitts who won heat 7 in 10.17.
Other leading times came from Raymond Stewart and Omar Brown who both clocked 10.20 in heat 1, Lleweyn Bredwood 10.24 in heat 3, Dwight Thomas and Ricardo Williams 10.23 in heat 6 and Lindel Frater 10.25 in heat 4. Both the women's and men's 100 metres semi-final and finals will be run this evening.
Five men went below 50 seconds in the 400m hurdles heats. Kemel Thompson won heat 1 by a wide margin to register 49.69 with Wayne Whyte second in 50.36. Mario Watts won heat 2 in 49.77 with Neil Gardner seocnd in 49.85 while in heat 3 Dinsdale Morgan, 49.87, outkicked Ian Weakley 49.90 in heat 3.
The meet got off to a slow start. The women's shot put final was won by Melissa Gibbons with a throw of 13.97m. Mario Watson won heat one of the men's 800 metres while heat two went to schoolboy Aldwyn Sappleton.
-Winston Sill Photo
