ian allen-Isa Phillips (right) clears a hurdle ahead of Markino Buckley but finished second in his 400m hurdles heat at the National Athletics Championships at the National Stadium yesterday. Phillips finished in 49.28 seconds behind Buckley who won in 49.26.

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sports Editor

National Collegiate Ath-letic Association (NCAA) 400 metres hurdles champion Isa Phillips has his sights set on winning the Jamaica national title.

On yesterday's first day of the Puma Supreme Ventures National Senior and Junior Championships Phillips, the fastest Jamaican in the event this year with a personal best of 48.51 seconds, was clipped on the line by Markino Buckley, 49.26 to 49.28 in semi-final heat one. The Louisiana State University student is, however, saving everything for today's final.

"Since nationals (NCAA) I have stepped it up from just making the team to the World Championships to looking at possibly winning the national title here. That would be a great feat for me so we are working on doing that," the very confident Phillips said.

To win the title he will have to beat former champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane who was impressive in taking heat two in 49.27. Dean Griffith was second in 49.52.

upset result

In an upset result yesterday, many-time national long jump champion Elva Goulbourne was upstaged by American-born Jamaican, 23-year-old Chelsea Hammond.

Hammond, born to Jamaican parents in New York, dominated the event from the start to post a winning wind-aided distance of 6.87m. The following wind was 2.2 metres per second.

Her first three attempts produced 6.63m, 6.65m and 6.66m, all over her previous personal best of 6.58m.

Goulbourne was second with 6.67m. The wind (2.4mps) was also over the legal limit of 2.0 mps. Nolle Graham was third with 6.38m (1.2mps).

Hammond was very confident coming into the meet.

"I just love it here. The crowd, the excitement, the fast track. I always feel comfortable competing here." Hammond has been to the championships on at least three previous occasions, but has always finished behind Goulbourne who has been winning the national title since 1999.

There were no heats for the women's 400m hurdles. All entrants, including world leader Melaine Walker, advance to this evening's final.

World record holder Asafa Powell led all qualifiers into this evening's semi-finals of the men's 100 metres.

Powell on a canter

Powell won the opening heat in 10.20 as he barely raised a gallop. Veteran Clement Campbell was next best in 10.25 in winning heat four. Nesta Carter took heat four in 10.27. Schoolboy Yohan Blake ran away with heat two in 10.32 while 2005 World Championships silver medallist Michael Frater was home first in heat three in 10.33.

In other finals completed yesterday, Aundrae Clarke threw 61.27m on his very last throw to take the men's javelin. G.C. Foster's Mickhil Downer was second with a best of 60.32m. Third went to Michael Chambers on 50.86m.

Troy Irons was a runaway winner of the Masters men 1,500 metres. Irons won in 4:26.27 from former national representative Linton McKenzie, who clocked 4:53.13. Richard Brown was third in 4:56.10 and Oral Anderson fourth, 5:00.67.

Karlene Blagrove was also too good for her rivals in the women's Masters 1500m. She won in 5:24.65, over a minute ahead of Ann-Marie Shaw 6:09.40 and Cecile Bordato 7:45.26.

Wainard Talbert won the 5000m in 14.58.98 from Kirk Brown 15.42.71 and Sheldon Watson, 16.28.10.