Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
Michael Frater (left) runs away from the field to win his 100 metres heat at the National Track and Field Athletics Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium yesterday. Frater won in 10.30 seconds flat. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 100m silver medallist Michael Frater has expressed disappointment with the 'below par' 100 metres field at the National Track & Field Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.
In yesterday's opening round, Frater, who pocketed the 100m silver behind American sprint double champion Justin Gatlin at last year's World Championships in Helsinki, easily took heat one in 10.30 seconds.
In his heat, Frater beat Mario Forsythe (10.35) and Descosma Wright (10.47), but shared the day's fastest time with Carl Barrett who won heat five ahead of Orlando Morgan.
"I am kind of disappointed that there wasn't more quality in the field," said Frater referring to the fact that he may not be threatened in the final.
Dwight Thomas, Yhann Plummer, Ricardo Williams and Asafa Powell are some of the top Jamaican sprinters who did not start. However, Frater said he respected the latter's absence.
ASAFA NEEDS TO REST
"We understand Asafa (Powell) ran a world record two weeks ago, so he needs the rest to recover. He can't let what happened last year, happen again," he said.
"We have a lot of quality guys and I am disappointed that a lot of them did not show up. This is the National Championships and I think people have disrespected it this year," Frater said with a sad look on his face.
He, however, said he will have to work with the upcoming talents at his MVP training camp.
"In our training group we have a lot of young guys that have huge potential, so there will still be competition you know, but ... "
Frater said he is comfortable with his first round performance.
"It's the first round, so I tried to take it as easy as possible. All I did was started and that's it, so I'm pretty comfortable with that," he said.
Meanwhile, Novelle Graham won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.40 metres, beating Jovanee Jarrett (6.39m ) and Rose-Marie White (6.08m).
"I had hoped to jump further than this but I will take the win and work on a few things," Graham said.
Jarrett said it wasn't her day.
TIRED
"It didn't go my way for sure. I got in yesterday and I am kind of tired, so I think that affected the way I jumped," Jarrett said.
In the Under-20 event, Vere's Rose-Marie Jones (5.80m) while Meisha-Gaye DaCosta of Immaculate (5.43m) won the Under-17 equivalent.
Wainard Talbert (15:27.57) won the men's 1500m final ahead of Kerone Fairweather (15:38.86), Jason Saunders (15: 42.86) and Maxwell Smith (17:48.86).
National champion Kemel Thompson (49.53) and Bryan Steele (49.63), the NCAA silver medallist, Ian Weakley ( 49.56), and Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane (49.72) advanced in the men's 400m hurdles.
In the men's 400m, Ricardo Chambers (46.65), the fastest Jamaican this season, Jermaine Gonzales (47.43), Sanjay Ayre (47.70) and Davian Clarke (46.46) are all through to the semi-finals today.
Chambers is aiming at Roxbert Martin's 400m record of 44.49 seconds.
"I feel like I am in very good shape to break it. If I get a perfect race, I think I will break," he repeated.
In junior finals, Lorenzo Wedderburn (16:30.67) took the boys' 5000m ahead of Daren Lindsay (16:31.25); Andrea Reid of Holmwood (1: 00.56) beat Andrea Sutherland of Edwin Allen (1:00.74) and Manchester High's Judith Riley (1:03.67) in the girls' Under-20 400m hurdles final.
Shana-Gaye Tracey of Manchester High won the girls' Under-17 hurdles in 1:02.32 seconds.
The meet continues at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon and is slated to end at 7:00 p.m.
