Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hilton sounded the alarm of her return to form last night at the Jamaica National Jamaica International Invitational track meet in Kingston, in front of a packed vibrant stadium. The 37-year-old 2009 World 100m hurdles champion clocked a speedy 12.51secs to defeat Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep 12.64 and Britain’s Tiffany Porter 12.65. Shortly after winning Foster-Hylton announced that this is after the race, Foster-Hylton announced that this is her final season.
Earlier in the night, Foster-Hylton’s countryman and double sprint world record holder Usain Bolt clocked world-leading 9.82 (+1.8 w) for his first individual 100m race of the season. Bolt won ahead of Jamaica’s Michael Frater (10) and Lerone Clarke (10.03).
In the women’s 100m, USA’s 2011 World 100m champion Carmelita Jeter raced to a world-leading 10.81secs to break the meet record of 10.86 she set last year. She defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste (10.86), who challenged her to the end, and Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart (10.98).
Noticeably absent from the men’s 100m line-up was Olympic and World sprint relay gold medalist Nesta Carter, who withdrew from the meet yesterday without explanation. He was replaced by compatriot Oshane Bailey. Prior to Carter’s withdrawal, his teammate Asafa Powell pulled out of the meet, citing injury. Olympic 100m silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad was disqualified for jumping the gun but returned to the race and ran under protest.
Among other highlights, World champion Yohan Blake was also a world-leader with 19.91secs in the 200m. He beat his former high school teammate Nickel Ashmeade (20.21). And Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills defended her 400m title, clocking 49.99 to beat US’s Sanya Richards-Ross (50.11) and Britain’s Christine Ohurougo (50.93).