Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013

5 WL Marks At 2013 Jamaica International Invitational, Tyson Gay Dominates

5 WL Marks At 2013 Jamaica International Invitational, Tyson Gay Dominates

May 5, 2013 by Justin Britton
5 WL Marks At 2013 Jamaica International Invitational, Tyson Gay Dominates

-Kingston, Jamaica

With the National Stadium yearning to fight off flooding from massive rains during the day, the fans began to fill the seats for a highly anticipated affair on the track.  Although six-time Olympic champion, Usain Bolt, had pulled out of the 200m & rising star, Yohan Blake, also dealing with some minor injuries, pulled out of the 100m, it was still slated to be a delight on the track.


Photo via @Trackalerts 

In total, there were 5 world-leading marks, highlighted by Tyson Gay's (USA) 100m in 9.86 and Ryan Whiting's (USA) toss of 21.72m in the Shot Put.  This was an IAAF World Challenge Event.

The tables have turned, as the local stars, Bolt & Blake are on the injured reserve at the moment, showing that Tyson is on track to throw it down against the two Jamaicans after being the first sub-10, 100m of 2013.    Gay had mentioned post race that he didn't get the best start and although he isn't at full fitness yet, he's being very patient with it and knows that there's a lot of time left in the season.  He also noted that he's not also just feeling good, but he's feeling the best that he's felt in a while.  Finishing behind the 2007 World Champion, Nesta Carter (JAM) back in 10.03 & Darvis (Doc) Patton (USA) in third running 10.07.

Photo: Anthony Foster 

After having a unbeaten streak of 5 meets during the past indoor campaign, Ryan Whiting showed that he's still on a roll, as he threw for a WL mark of 21.74 in the Shot Put. Bouncing back from his loss to Reese Hoffa at the Drake Relays, he edged out Christian Cantwell (USA) by a little more than a meter as he threw for 20.29m.  Whiting said afterwards that he really enjoyed the atmosphere that Jamaica presents and that he was in love with the weather, as it was much different than where he trains back in the states.

VCB, Veronica Campbell-Brown finished victorious in the battle between Allyson Felix, as the pressure was on to get the huge win at home.  VCB didn't have the greatest start as she struggled to get out of the blocks cleanly, but she stormed back the last 30-40 meters of the race to finish with a time of 11.01.  Felix wound up finishing 5th in the race running 11.13, as she'll move on from here to compete next Friday in the 400m in Doha.

Both the Men's and the Women's hurdle races resulted in WL times, both being set by Americans.  On the Women's side of things, Dawn Harper-Nelson beat fellow American, Queen Harrison by a hair, as they both set WL marks, Harper-Nelson 12.62 over Harrison's 12.64.  For the Men's 110m hurdles, there was much anticipation from the crowd, not only because of the Jamaicans that were in the field, but stemming from the victory Andrew Riley had over WR holder Aries Merritt at the Drake Relays.  In an effort to 'one-up' their female compatriots, the top 3 men in the race ended up only being separated by a mere .03s.  The victor, Antwon Hicks (USA) 13.25, just ousting Hansel Parchment (JAM) 13.26 and Riley (JAM) 13.28.  Oddly enough, this is the track where Hicks won his World Junior title, 11 years ago in the 110 Hurdles back in 2002.

The 5th World Leading mark came out of the Men’s 200, where there was a slight upset, after Bolt pulled out of the meet, the focus was set on 2012 London Olympic Bronze medalist, Warren Weir (JAM).  He came up a bit short as his fellow countrymen, Nickel Ashmeed took the win and new WL time running 20.00.  Weir ended up in second finishing 20.14 and American, Wallace Spearmon closing hard for third with a time of 20.34.

In the same race, although the female version, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce (JAM) showed that she's still on her game, after running the 2nd fastest time in the world this year & 5th fastest of her career thus far, 22.38.  Behind SAFP finished fellow Jamaican Kerron Stewart at 22.71 and Sherone Simpson as she tied (ok, there’s no ties in T&F, Simpson was awarded third) Samantha Henry-Robinson at 22.83.

Photo: Anthony Foster

Other performances of the meet included a loss by the 2012 London Olympic Silver Medalist, Christine Ohuruogu (GB), as the youngster from Jamaica, Stephanie McPherson ran 50.43 to edge Ohuruogu’s 50.58.  Luguelin Santos (DR) resumed to power in the men's 400m as he beat Tony McQuay (USA) 45.06 to 45.12.

Not a shock, but fast times were also seen from the legs of the high school runners, where we saw Calabar High School (JAM) run 3:08.79 in the 4x400, a time that many NCAA schools aren’t able to run.

American Will Claye finished 2nd behind Jamaica's Nic Gordon, Claye jumping 7.74m - 25'4.75" to Gordon’s 7.80m - 25'7.25".

We also saw a 3-battle take place in the men's 400m hurdles, where a duo of Americans, Justin Gaymon & Kerron Clement, tried to edge out Jehue Gordon of the island nation(s) Trinidad and Tobago.  Both Americans clocked a final time of 49.23, but Gaymon was given the victory, Gordon finished in third by .03, running 49.26.

Results here

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