( right - left ) SMITH and GOLDING-CLARKE
JAMAICA'S TRECIA-KAYE Smith continued her impressive early season form by winning the triple jump at Sunday's 21st edition of the 'Grande Prêmio Brazil Caixa de Atletismo', an IAAF Grand Prix, which was held at the 'Estádio Man-gueirão' in Belém, State of Pará, Brazil.
Performing in front of over 35,030 spectators, Smith, who took only two jumps, first recorded 14.63 metres, before leaping to a winning mark of 14.81m on the second, after which she passed up her remaining attempts. Fellow Jamaican Suzette Lee was second with 14.08m.
Smith, who was fourth at the Olympic Games in Athens last summer, now has the three best distances on the IAAF's top list for this season. The 29-year-old now has distances of 14.91m, 14.81m and 14.62m which were done at the Jamaica International Invitational on May 7.
Meanwhile, Mardrea Hyman and Lacena Golding-Clarke were also Jamaican winners. The 33-year-old Hyman, a former 1500m specialist who converted to the 3000m steeplechase this season, won in 9:46.97, her second personal best in one week.
Hyman (2:02.63), who lost to world leader Kenia Sinclair (2:00.05) in the 800m at the Jamaica International Invitational recently, finished ahead of fellow Jamaican Korine Hinds, who ran 9:54.99. Portuguese Anália Rosa was third in 10:11.19.
In the women's sprint hurdles, Golding-Clarke, second on the IAAF list, produced the joint fifth best time this season, 12.75, seconds to finish ahead of Haitian Nadine Faustin (12.85) and Poland's Aurelia Trywianska (12.93).
SEASON BEST
Golding-Clarke's husband, Davian, recorded a season best 44.92 for second in a 400m field which saw seven season best times and a Canadian record of 44.72 by the 21-year-old winner, Tyler Christopher. Michael Frater was second in the men's 100m dash in 10.26 seconds behind the United States' Brian Lewis 10.22.
National champion Maurice Wignall was fourth in the men's 110m hurdles race in 13.50. The event was won by Redelen Melo dos Santos in 13.30 seconds over his teammate Matheus Facho Inocencio (13.40).
In the women's 200m, Beverly McDonald (22.98) and Peta-Gaye Dowdie (23.13) finished third and fourth, respectively.
World Championships silver medallist Christopher Williams finished fifth in the men's 200m, crossing in 20.70. American Jimmie Hackley won in 20.49 seconds. Michelle Ballentine, the only Jamaican to go under two minutes last season in the 800m, finished second in 2:01.80.
A.F.
