Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

Simone Facey ... now the fastest Jamaican woman this year. - file

FORMER Vere Technical High star, Simone Facey, hit top form at the weekend as she became the seventh fastest Jamaican woman ever over 100 metres when she ran a career-best 10.95 seconds to win the event at the Big 12 Conference meet in Colorado.

Facey's winning time was also the second fastest in the world this year behind Allyson Felix's 10.93 at the Doha Grand Prix on May 9.

A senior at Texas A&M University, Facey, now the fastest Jamaican woman this year, sent a strong message to her rivals ahead of next month's National Championships at the National Stadium.

Facey confirmed her excellent form 45 minutes later when she posted 22.42 to finish second in the 200m. Her teammate, Porscha Lucas, won in a world-leading time of 22.29. Nickeisha Anderson, representing Kansas University, finished third in a career-best 22.57. Earlier, she finished sixth in the 100m in 11.35.

Good victories

Two other Jamaicans scored good victories at the meet. Former Queen's High athlete, Latoya Greaves, continued her good form for Oklahoma University as she raced to a personal-best 12.99 to win the 100m hurdles. Her teammate Latoya Heath, the former St Andrew High athlete, was third in 13.42.

Former Wolmer's Boys standout Julian Reid, who now competes for Texas A&M University, was the other Jamaican winner at the meet. He won the long jump event with 7.78m. He just edged out former Calabar star Nicholas Gordon who leapt 7.77m to finish second for Nebraska University. In the triple jump, Reid (16.17m) finished second while Gordon (15.47m) ended sixth.

Jamaican athletes were also in good form at the SEC Championships at Auburn, Alabama. Former Kingston College athlete, Alain Bailey, who is now at Arkansas University was the most impressive as competing in a negative wind of minus 2.0 metres per second (mps) he captured the long jump with 7.94m.

After being disqualified in the 400m hurdles for false starting, former Alpha Academy student, Nickeisha Wilson, of Louisiana State University (LSU) clocked 12.81 to win the 100m hurdles.

Finished second

Former Edwin Allen High middle distance runner Kayon Thompson, also of LSU, finished second in the 800m in 2:04.82 while Lorain McKenzie, competing for Florida University, was fourth in 2:05.52.

There were two third-place finishes for LSU's Samantha Henry, the former Queen's High athlete. She clocked 11.27 in the 100 metres and 22.98 over 200m.

Trinidad and Tobago athletes, Kelly Ann Baptiste and Richard Thompson, also helped to ensure a good weekend for LSU. Baptiste (11.09) won the 100m and finished second in the 200m in 22.87.

Thompson, the fastest Collegiate male sprinter this year, raced to a fine double. First, he won the 100m in a personal-best 9.93 seconds, the third fastest time in the world this year, then rounded off the meet by taking the 200m in 20.23.