Shelly 10.79, Asafa 9.84, sizzle at National Trials

By Kayon Raynor 

Reigning World 100 metre gold medallist Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce displayed her readiness for a third title in Beijng, China, in two months with a blistering  world leading time of 10.79 seconds to win the national championship on Friday night.

The two-time Olympic 100 metre champion nailed a perfect start before powering away to an emphatic win by 24 hundredths of a second.

The fourth Fastest women of all time with 10.70secs, who already has a bye to Beijing as defending champion from Moscow 2013, told reporters execution was paramount.

"It was more about executing a very good race and the fact that I missed a couple races because of my hamstring niggles, I just wanted to come out here and put a solid race together," Fraser-Pryce said.

She will now compete in the 200 metres.

In the absence of Elaine Thompson, who has a season best of 10.84, but opted only to run the 200m, Natasha Morrison also of the MVP Track Club took second place in 11.03 ahead 2007 world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown 11.06secs.

Comparatively, English Gardner won the women's equivalent in the U.S. Trials in a world leading equalling 10.79 secs to reply to Fraser Pryce., while Tyson Gay won the men's 100 metres in 9.87 secs.

Meanwhile, former two-time world bronze medallist  Asafa Powell equalled his season's best of 9.84 seconds to win his sixth 100m title.
The former World record holder was slowly away behind Nesta Carter and Nickel Ashmeade,  but surged away after the drive phase before shutting it down and cruising home in 9.84 secs. 

"I'm still in hard training as we're really focusing on the world championship, so this was just me coming off some hard work and running very fast, so I'm feeling very confident," the fourth fastest man of all time with 9.72 told reporters.

The fast finishing Nickel Ashmeade leaned at the tape to take second in 9.91 while Commonwealth champion Kemar Bailey-Cole was third in 9.97.

Reigning World bronze medallist Nesta Carter, who also dipped below 10 seconds with 9.98 will have to settle for relay duties.  

2011 world champion Yohan Blake had earlier placed 6th in Powell's semi-final with 10.36 (wind -1.3 m/s) and failed to make the final.

In the USA, Tyson Gay won the men's 100 metres in 9.87 secs at the U.S. Trials also on Friday night.

Annsert Whyte returned the 10th fastest time in the world this season to capture the 400m men's hurdles.

Running from lane five, Whyte took control of the race at the 300 metre mark before pulling away to win in 48.90secs ahead of Roxroy Cato 49.09 and Leford Green 49.91.

In the absense of Kaleise Spencer, who opted for the flat 400m, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Janieve Russell produced a late burst over the last two flights to win the women's 400m hurdles in 55.10.

Shevon Stoddart with 55.29 and Ristananna Tracey 55.45 completed the podium spots.

In the field, Chanice Porter of Georgia University, won the women's Long Jump at 6.39 metres ahead of Tisana Hickling 6.09 metres and Todea-Kay Willis 5.95 metres. Porter told TVJ's Jeremain Brown she is unlikely to go to the World Championships in Beijing, China, because she not satisfied with her performance plus she is carrying an ankle injury.

Danielle Thomas won the women's discuss throw with 57.67 metres ahead of Tara Sue Barnett 56.56 metres and Kellion Knibb 54.71 metres.