Sport

Blackwood, Williams for men's, women's 400m

By RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

Lorraine Fenton - file

CHOOSING A WINNER for the men's senior 400m at this weekend's National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships will prove very difficult.

The event is very competitive and there is no clear cut favourite.

A few new faces have the veterans. Topping this list is overseas based Ricardo Chambers. This is a name that many local fans are yet to get used to as before migrating to the United States he was an average athlete at Christiana Comprehensive.

Chambers has, however, blossomed this season at the University of Florida and finished fourth at the recent National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA) outdoor Championships. He is the best ranked Jamaican with a 44.87 seconds clocking.

Davian Clarke, 44.92, is the only other Jamaican to have gone under 45.00 this season.

Many-time champion Michael Blackwood has always performed well at these championships and he will be hoping to take home the number one spot again and even with a best time of 45.28 he cannot be counted out as he knows how to perform at the National Stadium.

Clarke, the number two ranked Jamaican this season has been around for a long time and, like old wine he seems to get better every year. The outstanding relay runner has a good record at the trials and he will be there at the end.

After placing in the top three last year and then failing to run the individual event at the Olympic Games, Jermaine Gonzales will be aiming to put everything right by aiming for the top spot. At the Penn Relays he looked awesome on his relay leg but at a recent meet in Mexico he ran disappointingly. He will have to reproduce his Penn Relays form if he hopes to upset the apple cart here.

Great season

Defending champion Brandon Simpson has not been having a great season but he also has the knack of performing well at the trials. With a season best 45.25 he could peak at the right time.

Also down to compete are veteran Michael McDonald, Sanjay Ayre, Marvin Essor and Lansford Spence.

Blackwood is given the edge despite Chambers' credentials.

TOP EIGHT: 1. Michael Blackwood, 2. Ricardo Chambers, 3. Davian Clarke, 4. Brandon Simpson, 5. Sanjay Ayre, 6. Jermaine Gonzales, 7. Michael McDonald, 8. Lansford Spence.

The women's 400m will also be very competitive.

Defending champion Nadia Davy will have an uphill task to retain her title as she has hardly been on the track this season and will have to improve significantly on the 52.61 she did at the Jamaica International Invitational on May 7.

Many-time champion Lorraine Fenton is abck after missing out last season. In the past, Fenton at less than 100 per cent would have blown away her opponents but, like Davy, has hardly competed this season. Her best time is 51.78 for third at the Jamaica Invitational .

The title looks like a battle between Ronetta Smith and Novlene Williams.

Last year Williams was favoured to win but played second fiddle to Davy. She was Jamaica's best 400m runner last year and just missed the Olympics final where she had the ninth fastest time. She has the best time this season, 51.12, from the Reebok meet in New York.

Speaking after that event she stated that she is not yet where she wants to be.

"I am kind of disappointed with my times so far but I am not worried as my focus is on the World Championships and at the Trials I am hoping to finish in the top two where I can then continue to work toward the Championships", she said.

Very optimistic

After failing to finish in the top three last year Smith, the former Camperdown and Louisiana State University star is very optimistic about her chances this weekend.

Looking much stronger than last year, Smith, with a 51.2 clocking is Jamaica's number two and has beaten Williams twice this season. Smith who usually goes out very fast has changed her running style a bit and with the kind of confidence she is showing she could surprise Williams and take her first national title.

There are several new kids on the block who will be hoping to challenge for the title and also places on the 4x400m team.

NCAA fourth place finisher Shereefa Lloyd with a season best 51.39 along with the likes of Moya Thompson (51.50), schoolgirl Sonita Sutherland (52.10) and former Vere Technical athlete Patricia Hall with a best time so far of 52.24 seconds will all be coming to upset.

Not to be left out is a "dark horse" in former St. Elizabeth Technical's Shericka Williams.

Williams, who now attends the University of Technology and who is under the guidance of Stephen Francis (coach of Asafa Powell) has made tremendous strides.

A few weeks ago at a Stadium East meet she clocked 51.79 to win handsomely, leaving the likes of Allison Beckford, Marsha Dawkins and Davita Prendergast behind.

While this 400m could be the most competitive ever at our Trials, Williams is given the slight edge to win but just slightly over Smith.

TOP EIGHT: 1. Novlene Williams, 2. Ronetta Smith, 3. Lorraine Fenton, 4. Shereefa Lloyd, 5. Shereka Williams, 6. Moya Thompson, 7. Sonita Sutherland, 8. Sandie Richards.