Asafa Powell (3rd left) comes from behind to step ahead of the field. From left are Michael Frater, Dexter Lee, Steve Mullings, Nesta Carter, Yohan Blake, Mario Forsythe and Jaques Harvey.

Veronica Campbell-Brown (63) ahead of Jura Levy, Schollonie Calvert, Aleen Bailey, Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart, Carrie Russell and Simone Facey.                         -DPalmer photos

As action heated up on Day 2 of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s (JAAA’s) Senior Championships, several veterans were in splendid form, including Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB), Asafa Powell, Kaliese Spencer, Kenia Sinclair and Leford Green, who punched their tickets to South Korea this summer by winning their respective events. VCB took the women’s 100m in a brisk 10.84secs ahead of Kerron Stewart and a late charging Jura Levy.
 
The much anticipated  men’s 100m clash went to the veteran Asafa Powell in 10.08 (-1.8ws) just ahead of Yohan Blake (10.09) and Steve Mullings (10.10) with Nesta Carter (10.12)  in fourth.  Powell, who is in fine form after cruising to 9.90 in the semi-final round earlier in the evening, rallied from a stumbling start to run a controlled race and snatch victory over a very competitive field.

The very close finish needed a few minutes to confirm that the winner was Powell and not Blake as some had thought, and the stadium erupted into jubilation.

All three men are set to join Olympic and World Champion Usain Bolt in representing Jamaica in the 100m at the World Championships in Daegu late summer, and the quartet are automatic members of the sprint relay pool of six. The remaining members to complete the pool will be selected by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association and will most likely be Powell’s teammates Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, who were 4th and 5th in 10.12 and 10.19, respectively.

A rarely seen wide smile from Powell as he's being congratulated by Mullings.

“It’s a great achievement tonight because I’m like 75% healthy and I did a good job, so I’m happy,” said the former world record holder after he repelled the competition in a strong field and proved his critics wrong. “Watch out for Asafa Powell,” was his message to the world, [because] it’s not going to be that easy.”

 

The women’s 100m had generated much excitement, too, as Veronica Campbell-Brown raced to a 10.84secs win (0.3w) over Kerron Stewart (10.97) and the fast rising pocket rocket Jura Levy (10.11) who was running as a senior for the first time. VCB, who has season best 10.76, was slow out of the blocks behind a fast starting Simpson, but recovered well- through her drive phase to accelerate and run away with the victory.

Like the men’s situation, the three women will join World and Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce in the 100m in Daegu. Olympic silver medalist Sherone Simpson was 4th in 11.15, Aleen Bailey 5th in 11.18 and Schillonie Calvert 6th in 11.24.

While Kaliese Spencer, the 2010 Diamond League 400m hurdles winner won her pet event in a season-best 54.15, the spotlight was on her MVP teammate Ristananna Tracey who finished in second place in a Jamaica National Junior Record time of 54.58, with Nickiesha Wilson in third in 55.95 secs. Tracey is having a fabulous year on the track, which saw her breaking Melanie Walker’s 10-year-old 400m hurdles high school record, winning the 400m at the Penn Relays and moving up to the senior level by joining the MVP Track Club.

Melanie Walker, the defending World champion is automatically qualified for Daegu, along with Spencer, Tracy and Wilson to form a formidable quartet for Jamaica in the 400m hurdles.

In the Men’s 400m hurdles, Leford Green of Johnson C. Smith University won the event in 49.19secs ahead of Josef Robertson 49.64 and Roxroy Cato 49.66. Veteran Danny McFarlane at age 39 finished 4th in 49.77. Green, the 2010 Jamaica Hurdles champion and is coming off an impressive season that saw him earning the 2011 Division II Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year award. Danny Mac was gunning for his 7th World Championship 400m hurdles finals.

Other winners include Kenia Sinclair in the women’s 1500m in 4:18.00 ahead of Korene Hinds 4:19.93. Ryan Lawrence won the men’s 1500m in 3:52.36; Jovanee Jarrett won the women’s long Jump with a leap of 6.44m while Allison Randall took the women’s discus with a throw of 53.28m.
                                               -Desmond G. Palmer & O’Neil A. Reid