Walker ... sets new national junior record of 55.62 in 400m hurdles. - FileEIGHTEEN-year-old Melaine Walker of St. Jago High School was the toast of the Barbados International Track and Field Classics over the weekend, where she created a major upset by defeating former Olympic champion and last year's Olympic silver medalist Deon Hemmings in the 400 metres hurdles.
Walker, who has been having an outstanding season with record runs at Girl's Championships, Carifta Games and the Penn Relays over the 400 metres hurdles, gave glimpse of her true ability with an amazing run which surprised the packed National Stadium in Bridgetown.
Showing no signs of nervousness, the World Junior bronze medalist who just started the 400m hurdles event last June ran a very composed race to win easily in a new national junior record of 55.62 seconds, lowering her old mark of 56.50 seconds done at the Girl's Championships in April.
Her 55.62 clocking is the second fastest ever run by a junior athlete.
Hemmings ran on strongly for second in 56.11 seconds, while early leader Yvonne Harrison of the United States had to settle for bronze in 56.44 seconds.
Walker, who returned to the island yesterday was very elated about her victory.
"I feel very good about this win as a young athlete doing so well against senior athletes, especially someone like Deon Hemmings, who is my role model.
"I did not expect to beat her but when I reached at the top of the straight and I realised that it was not Deon who was leading I said to myself that if it was not Deon then I would not let the American girl beat me and I found extra gear."
Walker, who will be taking a break from competition to concentrate on her CXC examinations, stated that she will be still in training as she wants to do well at the National Trials to be held in June as she will be hoping to make the senior team to the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada.
"I will be trying my best to do well at the Trials as I am hoping to run even faster so that I can finish in the top three", concluded Walker.
Apart from Walker, there were victories for four other Jamaicans at the meet.
In the final event of the night, sprinter Patrick Jarrett surprised hometown boy, Obadele Thompson, in the men's 100 metres. The fans screaming "Oba" were silenced as Jarrett, a member of Jamaica's team to last year's Olympic Games, was first to cross the line in 10.21 seconds with Thompson finishing second in 10.25 seconds and America's Jeff Layne third in 10.30 seconds.
Jamaica swept the men's 400 metres hurdles and the women's 100 metres hurdles. In the men's event, Ian Weakley took gold in a season best 48.94 seconds, with Dinsdale Morgan (49.30) and Neil Gardener (49.32) completing a 1-2-3 finish for the Jamaicans.
In the women's 100 metres hurdles, Jamaica again swept the first three positions. Olympic finalist Bridgette Foster returned from injury with a bang as she won impressively in 12.87 seconds, with Lacena Golding taking silver in 13.07 seconds and Toni ann Doyley finishing with the bronze in 13.14 seconds.
Golding returned to take the long jump with a leap of 6.61 metres, while her husband, Davian Clarke, rounded off the victory for Jamaican athletes with a win in the 400 metres for men in 45.27 seconds.
