Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Sherone Simpson (left) sprints away from the field to win the 100 metres final at the National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday night. Simpson won in 10.82 seconds. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 200m champion Sherone Simpson said she
is very happy to become the second-fastest Caribbean woman ever over 100 metres.
Simpson raced to a National Stadium record 10.82 seconds in a head wind of -0.7 seconds to beat Holmwood schoolgirl and World Youth silver medallist Schillonie Calvert (11.29) and Nyoka Cole (11.42) at Saturday's National Senior and Junior Track and Field Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.
"I am very happy," Simpson said of her super run.
Only former Jamaica sprint queen, Merlene Ottey, who now represents Slovenia, has gone faster - 10.74 seconds.
Barcelona's 1992 Olympic sprint double-silver medallist Juliet Cuthbert (10.83), Bahamian Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Chandra Sturrup (10.84) and Olympic 200m champion and World Cham-pionships silver medallist Veronica Campbell (10.85), were all surpassed by Simpson's breathtaking performance.
"I was surprised when I finished and saw the time," a smiling Simpson told journalists.
Unlike previous races where she usually breaks her form, Simpson executed very well from start to finish to secure her first national title.
Simpson, an Olympic sprint relay gold medallist, beat her previous best of 10.97 seconds.
Asked if she was happy with her execution, she was quick to say, "Yes, definitely, definitely ... after I saw the replay I am pretty satisfied," said Simpson who might have robbed herself of a faster time by easing up 10 metres from the finish line.
"I came here to work on my 100m because my last two races were very poor," she said. "I felt good in the race."
Calvert, who ran a personal best 11.21 in the semi-finals, said she was happy to compete against Simpson.
"I am very proud of myself to know that I was in that race with Sherone Simpson who raced to a world-leading time."
Simpson's Maximum Velocity Performance club mate, Michael Frater, the World Championships silver medallist, won the men's event in 10.18 seconds, beating training partners Nesta Carter (10.26) and Mario Forsythe (10.29).
SATISFIED WITH WIN
Frater expressed satisfaction with the win. However, he blamed a 'weak field' for his slow time.
"A win is a win so I am OK with that," Frater said.
"With better competition, I believe I would have run faster," he added.
Danny McFarlane regained his national 400m hurdles title with a 48.47 run to beat Kemel Thompson (48.61) and Gregory Little (49.45).
McFarlane said he was determined to regain his title as some athletes are vindictive against him.
"Last year some of the competitors had some vindictive feelings towards me being an Olympic medallist. Dem come to the meet most of the times to beat me, so last year I didn't expect what happened.
"This year I made sure I prepared myself to come back and be the national champion," he said.
McFarlane says he's a rasta and Saturday's victory is not about revenge, but he was "just focusing on coming out here to do my best and trying to be at the top of my game."
In the women's 400m hurdles, Melaine Walker secured her first national title in 55.10 ahead of teenager Kaleise Spencer (56.01) and Shevon Stoddart (56.24).
Walker had mixed feelings.
"I went out there and tried, I ran as hard as I could and came out with a 55(seconds) ... (it's), kind of disappointing, but it's better than nothing."
