- FILE
Simpson ... among the elite in the 200 metres.
IN ONE of the best 200 metre runs over the past four seasons, Jamaican Sherone Simpson has stamped her name on the half-lap event for some time to come.
At last weekend's Jamaica International Invitational, Simpson produced a world- leading 22.14 seconds to continue her dominance over Olympic champion and countrywoman, Veronica Campbell, in the event.
Only American Allyson Felix (22.13, 22.14) last year; Veronica Campbell (22.05, 22.13) in 2004 and the United States' Kelli White (22.05) and Felix (22.11) in 2003, have gone faster than Simpson whose previous best was 22.59.
Simpson's performance, which surpassed Campbell's meet record of 22.53 set last year, was voted The Gleaner's Top Performer of the Week May 4-11.
Drawn in lane five and with Campbell behind her, Simpson went out like a shot from a gun and when she straightened, the field was left for dead.
In repeating her Common-wealth Games' success, Simpson, who led from start to finish, pulled away from fast- tracking Campbell to win by more than five metres.
In proving that her Common-wealth Games victory wasn't a fluke, Simpson's personal best now places her fifth on the Jamaican all-time list behind Merlene Ottey (21.64), Grace Jackson (21.72), Juliet Cuthbert (21.75) and Campbell (22.05).
Simpson, who in 2003 led the world in the 100m for several weeks, was delighted with the victory.
"I knew that it was going to be competitive to finish in front of Veronica and Lauryn (Williams of the U.S.) ... so I knew I had to run the corner well and I did 22.14, so I'm pretty satisfied," explained Simpson, a student at the University of Technology.
- Anthony Foster
