File
Kenia Sinclair (centre). Howard Walker
, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair lowered the national 800m record for the second time this year, running a blistering 1:58.88 seconds to finish third at the IAAF Golden League meet in Rome, Italy, yesterday.
Sinclair, who on June 11 ran 1:59.10 seconds at Reebok Grand Prix in New York to erase Inez Turner's long-standing record of 1: 59.49, set in 1995, yesterday became the first Jamaican woman to run under 1:59.0 seconds.
Sinclair, 25, swept past her idol, the legendary Maria Mutola of Mozambique in the home stretch but could not hold off Hasna Benhassi of Morocco (1:58.41) and Russia's Svetlana Cherkasova (1:58.47).
On a night when Asafa Powell, the world record holder, pulled out of the 100m with a minor strain, several other Jamaicans performed creditably but failed to secure wins as they warmed up for the August World Championships in Helsinki.
Danny McFarlane, the Olympic 400m hurdles silver medallist and triple jumper Trecia Smith were the best placed Jamaicans at the meet with second-place finishes.
McFarlane, running out of lane 9, ran a season best 48.53 seconds behind the United States' James Carter, who won in 48.41. Ian Weakley finished ninth in 49.74 seconds.
National record holder, Trecia Smith, leapt to a creditable 14.85 metres, but was bettered by Russia's Lebedeva Tatyana (15.03m).
Brigitte Foster-Hylton placed third in the 100m hurdles in a time of 12.69 seconds behind the USA pair of Anjanette Kirkland (12.57) and Michelle Perry (12.66). Jamaica's other entrant, Lacena Golding-Clarke, finished sixth in 12.81. World Champion, Perdita Felicien of Canada finished seventh in 12.88 seconds.
dethroned
Brandon Simpson, the dethroned 400m national champion, ran a decent race to finish a close third in 45.21 behind the U.S. pair of Tyree Washington (45.02) and Andrew Rock (45.10). Davian Clarke finished seventh in 45.59 seconds.
Jamaicans performed disappointedly in the 100m sprints. Dwight Thomas was fourth in 10.15 seconds behind the runaway winner Justin Gatlin of the USA, 9.96 seconds and Ghana's Aziz Zakari (10.06) and Leonard Scott of the US (10.11).
Michael Frater got a bad start and was never in the race, finishing sixth in 10.17. Kim Collins, the world champion, finished eight in 10.27. Jamaica's Patrick Jarrett finished fifth in the 'B' Race in 10.39.
The sprint disappointment continued into the female race as both Sherone Simpson and Aleen Bailey failed to make an impact.
Following her magnificent 10.97 at the National Trials a couple of weeks ago, Simpson for the second race in succession, ran disappointingly, finishing eighth in 11.34 seconds. Bailey, also had a poor race, 11.31 seconds for sixth.
The race was won by Christine Arron of France in 11.03 seconds ahead of the USA champion, Me'Lisa Barber (11.10) and Allyson Felix (11.14).
In the women's 400m, national record holder, Lorraine Fenton looked sluggish in finishing fifth in 51.71 seconds whereas Ronetta Smith finished ninth in 52.84 seconds.
Maurice Wignall finished sixth in the 110 hurdles in 13.48 seconds behind Arnold Dominique of the USA in 13.11 seconds and Olympic champion, Liu Xiang of China in 13.24 seconds.
