Beckford, McFarlane hurdle to victory at Champs
published: Saturday | June 21, 2003

Danny McFarlane (830) leaps over the final hurdle in the men's 400 metres ahead of second-place finisher Kemel Thompson (left) at the National Stadium yesterday. -Ian Allen photo

Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

THE DEFENDING champions in the 400 metres hurdles in the senior women's and men's events were dethroned on yesterday's second day of the National Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

In the female event, former national junior champion Allison Beckford clocked 55.37 seconds to beat last year's champion Debbie-Ann Parris-Thymes (55.72) and Naleya Downer (55.77) into second and third.

Beckford, who just hours before ran 52.54 to win heat one of the women's 400m ahead of Novlene Williams (52.60) and Michelle Burger (52.75), said of her win over Parris-Thymes: "she is good, she is the defending champion but I had my tunnel vision ... so I just focussed on my race".

Meanwhile, Kemel Thompson was upstaged as champion, as Danny McFarlane, trying out the hurdles over the quarter-mile for the first time at the 'Trials', clocked a good 48.94, relegating Thompson (48.96) into second and Dean Griffiths (49.15) to third.

The short sprints were crackers.

NCAA champion Aleen Bailey, sister of Dance Hall superstar Capleton regained her 100m title, clocking 11.08 for victory ahead of Elva Gouldbourne (10.20) and Beverley McDonald (11.24).

Asafa Powell took the men's equivalent in a blistering 10.13 over Michael Frater (10.22) and Sheldon Morant (10.25).

The 'flying' Germaine Mason cleared 2.10m to crown himself champion in the men's high jump whilst Cluet Warner finished second with an effort of 1.80m.

Today's quarter-mile events loom as interesting showdowns.

Beckford goes into the final with the second fastest time behind 2000 Olympic silver medallist Lorraine Fenton (52.10). The other qualifiers for the final are Novlene Williams, Ronetta Smith (52.64), Michelle Burger (52.75), Shellene Williams (53.15), Catherine Scott (52.89) and Michelle Ballentine 53.66. Veteran Sandie Richards pulled up at the 250m mark in her semi and did not advance.

In the men's event, Brandon Simpson (45.33) heads the list of qualifiers going into the final. He is followed by Gregory Haughton (45.64), Michael Blackwood (45.72), Michael Campbell (45.89), Davian Clarke (45.89), Sanjay Ayre (45.94), Richard James (46.05) and Lansford Spence (46.45).

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