Injury scare for Simpson
published: Sunday | January 30, 2005

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

ALTHOUGH SHE pulled up in her first race of the season, early indications are that Sherone Simpson, one of Jamaica's Olympic Games 4x100 metres relay gold medallists, will be able to resume training tomorrow.

After entering the straight in yesterday's 400m at the Queen's/Grace Jackson track & field meet at Stadium East, Simpson stopped and then went down on the track before being carried off on stretcher.

Stephen Francis, Simpson's coach, said later that the sprinter was alright.

"She will be okay," Francis said. "Dr. Warren Blake examined her and said by Monday she will be okay ," he said. "I'm sure she will be at training on Monday."

Francis said the injury was a hamstring "discomfort" she had been carrying for the past two weeks but had kept it to herself.

POWELL WINS HEAT

Meanwhile, Asafa Powell, who won his 400m heat comfortably, finished sixth overall in the time-final event in 48.80. University of the West Indies' Kimani Williams, who also trains with Francis, won in 47.41.

World Championship 100-metre champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis, who also faced the starter in the 400m, finished second in 47.75 and World 200m silver medallist, Christopher Williams, was third in 47.79.

In the female section, Brigitte Foster-Hylton topped her rivals to win in 53.84. She beat Sabrina Smith of Manchester (57.06) and Taneisha Wisdom of G.C. Foster College (59.42).

Richard Cousins won the 800m Masters in 2:12.83 ahead of Allan Beckford (2:15.79) and Anthony Harris (2:17.81). In the Open event, JDF's Joseph Davis (1:56.31), Leon Lawson of G.C. Foster (1:58.17) and Shevaun Plummer of Rising Star (1:58.55) were the top finishers.

WALKER RAISES THE BAR

Karen Beautle and Wilbert Walker broke two of 11 records confirmed at press time. Beautle leapt 1.85 metres to erase her own mark of 1.75m done last year in the high jump while MVP's Walker leapt 15.83 to erase Kenneth Sylvester of UTech's old mark of 15.30 in the triple jump Open.

Sylvester was second in yesterday's event with a leap of 15.35. Kingston College's (KC) pair of Alain Bailey (14.75) and Carlos Mattis (14.49) finished third and fourth respectively.

In the High School section, other athletes establishing new records were, Sherika Williams of UTech in the girl's Class One 400m (55.38), Class Three 800m runner Natoya Goule of Manchester (2:16.80), Peta-Gaye Hamilton of St. Jago in the girls' Class Two 800m (2:17.67), St. Thomas Technical's Andreen Drydale in the girls' Class One 800m (2:22.22), Glengoffe's Class One 800m runner Andre Drummond (1:53.95), Campion's Class Two 800m hero Theon OcOconner (1:54.59), KC's Class Three half miler Danahue Williams (2:07.96), and Kimone Smith of Morant Bay in the girls' triple jump Open (12.76).