Williams, Bailey win 100m

By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor

MICHAEL SLOLEY, Freelance Photographer

CHRISTOPHER Williams and Aleen Bailey were crowned senior men's and women's 100 metres champions at the National Junior and Senior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last night.

Williams, showing a lot of grit and determination, held off pre-championships favourite Patrick Jarrett to win the men's event in 10.07 seconds. Jarrett clocked 10.08 for second while last year's champion Lindel Frater was third in 10.16 while Llewelyn Bredwood fourth in 10.18. All four were members of the the sprint relay squad in Sydney last year along with Dwight Thomas who finished fifth in 10.19.

The powerful looking Bailey ran away from a weak women's field to take the event in 11.14 seconds. With Beverly McDonald opting for the 200 metres and injury forcing out Olympic bronze medalist Tayna Lawrence and world junior champion Veronica Campbell, Bailey proved too much for Astia Walker who was second in 11.28. Peta-Gay Barrett, a former St. Andrew Technical student who graduated from Alabama University last month, was third in 11.34 while long jump champion Elva Goulbourne grabbed fourth in 11.44 and Holmwood Technical schoolgirl Nadine Palmer (11.48) was fifth in the event which was run as a straight final. Only six women faced the starter with former world junior champion Nikole Michell finishing at the back of the field in 11.69.

Debbie-Ann Parris, Jamaica's best female 400m hurdler this year, underlined her good form when she dethroned Deon Hemmings, the silver medalist at last year's Sydney Olympics. Parris, 27, led all the way to clock 54.91 while the 32-year-old Hemmings kept her form well up the final straight to get second in 55.25. Petagay Beckford, the former St. Elizabeth Technical high student who is now at Alabama University ran on to pip national junior record holder Melane Walker on the line. Beckford's time was 56.49 with Walker just behind in 56.50.

One of the happiest winners last night was Ian Weakley who turned the tables on Neil Gardner who had defeated him in the semi-finals on Thursday evening. For him winning the national 400m hurdles title was a dream come true.

"I have been running the 400m hurdles since 1992 and my dream and goal was to win the National title one day," Weakley who has a personal best this year of 48.94 said shortly after his race. "I am right where I want to be now. I am just trying to maintain my form and try to peak at the World Championship."

Gardner who hurdled smoothly on Thursday failed to withstand the pressure from Weakley yesterday and the latter powered clear over the final hurdle after a close duel early in the straight. The winner clocked 49.03, Gardner 49.48 and Mario Watts 49.61 for third. Dinsdale Morgan, Jamaica's best 400m hurdler for the past five years could only manage fifth in 50.60 while Winthrop Graham was last of the finishers in 52.03. Wayne Whyte fell 100 metres out and did not finish.

Pole vaulter Jabari Ennis, competing alone, equalled his own national record when he cleared 5.00m in the pole vault.

There were some disappointing times in the heats of the men's senior 800 metres. Nobody got below one minute 50 seconds. Sydney Olympian Marvin Watts won heat one in 1.51.88 while heat two went to Gareth Peters in 1.53.78.

Other winners yesterday were Trecia-Kaye Smith 14.11m in the senior women's triple jump, Simone Facey 11.61 seconds in the Under 18 girls 100m, Tesfa Latty 10.72 in the Under 18 boys 100m and Asafa Powell 10.50 in under 20 boys 100m.

The meet ends today with the first track event, the women's 100m hurdles semi-final heats, set for 4.30 p.m. and the final event, the men's senior 400m scheduled for 8.40.

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