Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah.
Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah returned to winning ways at the Velocity Fest No. 9 meeting at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Racing the distance for the first time this year, Thompson-Herah, of MVP Track Club, won the women’s 100m in 11.21 seconds (0.0m/s).
The 28-year-old, who was competing for the second time this season, looked a bit sluggish but despite that won easily in the end. Remona Burchell, of Sprintec, finished second in 11.35, while Natasha Morrison, of MVP Track Club, was third in 11.41.
The victory for Thompson-Herah came a week after she was beaten into fourth place over 200m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting in Miramar, Florida.
Vice President and CEO of Massy Distribution Janine Chen (centre) with Olympian Sherone Simpson and JAAA executive Ian Forbes at the handover ceremony.
Consumer and pharmaceutical goods provider Massy Distribution, the latest partners of the Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA), has handed over $500,000 worth of sanitization products to the athletics body aimed at enhancing safety at the remaining high school athletic meets this month.
Vice President and CEO of Massy Distribution Janine Chen, in handing over the items commented, The safety of our young people is mission critical for Massy Distribution. It has been a particularly difficult time for our student athletes. In early February, UNESCO identified physical inactivity as a parallel pandemic running alongside Covid-19. We are very happy that our athletes are again getting the opportunity to continue their training and participate in these meets. It’s important for them to get a feel for where they
Nesta Carter was too good for Yohan Blake in the men s 200m.
Great Britain s Zharnel Hughes, veteran sprinter Nesta Carter and Roneisha McGregor had solid performances at a Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) qualification meet at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The day marked the return of track and field to Jamaica with six qualification meets across the country even as the authorities continue to grapple with the unrelenting surge in COVID-19 cases.
All sporting activities ceased shortly after Jamaica confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 10, last year.
Hughes recovered from a poor start to win the sixth heat of the men’s 100m in 10.37 seconds, against a -3.5mps wind reading. The time was easily the fastest over the six sections as there was no final for the event.
Double Olympic sprint champion Thompson-Herah.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, Yohan Blake, Tajay Gayle, and Shericka Jackson headline a list of senior athletes scheduled to open their 2021 season on Saturday at the newly laid track at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The day will mark the return of track and field to Jamaica even as the authorities continue to grapple with the unrelenting surge in COID-19 cases. There have also been growing calls for the Government to hold off on the resumption of sporting activities.
A schedule released by the
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) shows action across seven other venues. However, the qualifying meets scheduled for Kirkvine in Manchester and the UWI Usain Bolt Track in Kingston will not go ahead due to a lack of entries.
Track and field could resume on Saturday, February 13 if given approval by the government.
In an effort to secure approval, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has taken on the responsibility to organise all meets.
This development comes a week after the Jamaican Cabinet agreed that sporting events can resume but under certain conditions. These include having no spectators inside sporting venues once the green light is given for a formal resumption of sports on the island.
Last month the Ministry of Health and Wellness had denied approvals from meet directors for a number of events amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.