- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Asafa Powell (left) powers to a national record 9.91 seconds in the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships men's 100 metres final at the National Stadium last night. Steve Mullings (centre) took second in a personal best 10.04 while Patrick Jarrett (right) was fifth.
Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
ASAFA POWELL produced a command performance last night to shatter the national 100 metres record in the men's final of the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Athletics Championships.
Before a packed, cheering grandstand on a still, humid evening the supremely confident Powell confirmed his top billing by clocking 9.91 seconds and blow past the 9.96 mark set on August 28, 1991 by Raymond Stewart.
The long striding Powell, the hot favourite for the event since his impressive showing at the World Championships almost a year ago, dragged Steve Mullings down to a personal best 10.04 seconds while former champion Dwight Thomas (10.30) was third.
HAD A LOT IN HAND
The national champion said he had a lot in hand and could have gone faster, but decided against it on the Championships' penultimate evening. "I knew I could break the record as going into the race I felt really focused," Powell said.
He continued: "It wasn't difficult, I just went out there and did what I had to do."
HAD TO FIGHT
The women's event also went to the favourite, Veronica Campbell. Campbell, the 2002 champion who missed last year's meet because of injury, had to fight all the way to get the better of fast-rising local-based sprinter Sherone Simpson.
Simpson, who took things easy in Friday's heats and yesterday's semi-finals, came out with all guns blazing in the final forcing the more experienced Campbell to dig deep.
Campbell won the event in 11.06, running against a minus 1.2 metres per second wind.
Simpson, Jamaica's fastest woman over the distance this year, was second in 11.20 just ahead of dethroned champion Aleen Bailey (11.21).
Meanwhile, Debbie Ann Parris and Danny McFarlane scored emphatic victories in the women's and men's 400m finals.
Parris, a finalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, ran an even race throughout clocking 55.30 to easily beat Patrina Allen (55.37) and Shevon Stoddart (55.50).
"I am pretty pleased with the result that I got today as I have been plagued with injuries over the past three years," a relieved Parris said after her win.
ONE STEP AT A TIME
She added: I have been taking it one step at a time this year and I have gained confidence with each performance."
The men's event was a virtual one-man show as defending champion McFarlane, drawn in lane five, powered away from his rivals and was easing down when he hit the tape in 48.95 seconds. Dean Griffiths, 49.27, grabbed second place from Kemel Thompson, 49.55, who ran a good race from lane one but had too much to do in the last 100 metres.
The men's 1,500 metres final went to Shawn Pitter in 3.57.54 ahead of Laurence Mendez 4:00.85 and Eldon Miller 4:14.40. Many-time champion Mardrea Hyman romped the women's 1,500 metres crossing the line in 4:24.26 beating Tanice Barnett, 4:41.27.
In a disappointing men's pole vault competition national record holder Jabari Ennis cleared 4.00 metres for victory.
Keshila Reid had earlier taken the women's discus with a throw of 41.89 metres from Thelecia Reynolds 38.06m and Peta-Gaye Williams 30.36.
Trecia-Kaye Smith (14.93) won the women's triple jump, beating Suzette Lee (13.98) and Colleen Scott (13.83).
Financial incentives for Jamaica medallists
JAMAICA'S REPRESENTATIVES to the 27th Olympic Games in Athens will have more than medals to run for after Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced an incentive package at a press conference held at the National Stadium yesterday.
Patterson, who was speaking in the hospitality room before the start of the second day of the Supreme Ventures National Senior Champion-ships, said the incentives, which will be paid out through the CHASE Foundation, will benefit all four sports Jamaicans will compete in at the August Games.
Jamaica will be represented in track and field, swimming, badminton and shooting and all four events were represented at the press conference.
Individual gold medallists will take home US$12,000 (J$732,000), silver medal winners will get US$8,000 (J$488,000) while a bronze medal winner will get US$6,000 (J$366,000).
In the team events which will also include the relays, gold medal winning teams will share US$18,000 ($1,098,000), silver will get US$12,000 (J$732,000) while the teams winning bronze will get US$10,000 (J$610,000).
Additionally, the Prime Minister announced that the usual contributions to the teams attending the Olympics will be made at a later date, adding that they have been approved by the National Council on Sports.
To represent one's country is an honour," the Prime Minister said, "and to represent one's country at the Olympics is a double honour."
- Paul A. Reid
