By Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
Windalco's Sherone Simpson wins the 100 metres in (11.1) ahead of her overseas-based teammate Nadine Palmer third in (11.5). - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine
WINDALCO'S FEMALE team and Jamaica Junior Males topped the overall section of the Lasco Club Championships held at GC Foster College on Saturday.
The highlights of the meet was the performance of Jamaica Junior's Peaches Roache who posted a national junior record in the female high jump. Roache who has dominated this event all season turned back the challenge of her main rival Shaunette Davidson of Windalco erasing the old mark of 1.86 with a new one of 1.87. Davidson finished second with 1.84 metres.
Another outstanding performance came in the male high jump as World Junior bronze medallist Germaine Mason of MVP-UTech tuned up for this week's national championships by capturing the event with 2.30 metres as Jamaica Junior's Carlos Mattis 2.10 metres had to settle for second place.
There were also some very outstanding performances on the track with Jamaica Junior's Usain Bolt and Windalco's Sherone Simpson stealing the spotlight.
Bolt, World Junior 200 metres gold medallist gave signs that he will be unstoppable this weekend at the National Championships. Competing among the seniors for the first time in his pet event, he was in awesome form as he strolled to an easy victory, actually jogging the final 50 metres to win in 21.1 seconds. It Dat Track Club's Sylvester Williamson (21.2) and Germaine Banton of Windalco (21.3) struggled behind for second and third.
The expected clash between Bolt and World 200 metres silver medallist Christopher Williams did not materialise as Williams who earlier won his heat failed to report to the final as the fair-sized crowd showed their disappointment by booing when the announcement was made that Williams was a no show.
After playing second fiddle all season to Kerron Stewart, Windalco's Sherone Simpson showing vast improvement to finally get the better of Stewart and in the process took home the gold in the 100 metres. Stewart who started out slowly led at the 50 metres mark but Simpson showing good top-end speed caught her main rival 10 metres from the finishing line to win in 11.1 seconds. It was a clean sweep for Windalco as Stewart (11.2) and overseas-based Nadine Palmer (11.5) took silver and bronze.
TOOK A DOUBLE
Lorraine McKenzie of Windalco took a double among the females as she won the 1500 metres in 4:49.13 and 3000 metres in 10:46.20. There were also good wins for other Windalco female athletes.
Among them were Aneisha McLaughlin 23.2 in the 200 metres, Sheryl Morgan 54.2 in the 400 metres, Carlene Robinson 2:08.3 in the 800 metres and Keisha Brown 13.5 in the 100 metre hurdles. Windalco's 4x100 metre relay quartet of Jodian Powell, Stewart, McLaughlin and Simpson also gave an outstanding performance by winning gold as they clocked 44.4 seconds.
Not to be outdone Jamaica Junior's Kedine Geddes had an excellent 6.42 metres in winning the long jump.
GC Foster College's Decosma Wright and Jamaica Junior's Kimani Kirton both took doubles among the males. Wright won the 110 metre hurdles in 13.94 seconds and long jump with a leap of 7.51 metres. Kirton's victories came in the shot put with a mark of 15.56 metres and the discus with a throw of 43.81 metres.
