The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Jamaica athletes steal spotlight at Mt Sac

by Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown ... won 200m in 22.66 seconds.

JAMAICAN athletes, led by the Stephen Francis-coached MVP Track Club, were in winning form at the Mt Sac Relays which came to an end on Sunday in Walnut, California.

The highlight from a local standpoint was the victory by MVP in the women's 4x400m as the quartet of Sherika Williams, Kaleise Spencer, Sherone Simpson and Melaine Walker raced to an impressive 3:25.04. Only a United States quartet led by Sanya Richards at the Texas Relays which did 3:23.49 has gone faster.

World 100m champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown started her outdoor season in style by winning the women's 200m in 22.66 seconds. American Carmeleta Jeter, the world 100m bronze medallist finished second in 22.86.

Brigitte's triumphant return

MVP's Brigitte Foster-Hylton who missed out last year due to injury was victorious in the women's 100m hurdles in 13.18.

Jamaica's other victory on the female side came from Korene Hinds who won the 3000m steeplechase in 9:41.88. Her teammate Madrea Hyman had to settle for fifth with 9:57.18. Hyman was, however, second in the 1500m in 4:17.14. She was also fourth in the 800m in 2:06.75.

There were fourth-placed finishes for Shevon Stoddart and Colleen Scott. Stoddart clocked 56.63 for fourth in the 400m hurdles as American LaShanda Demus, who had twins last year, returned in style to win in 55.45. Scott had a best of 13.39m in the women's triple jump.

In men's events former national junior and senior representative Germaine Mason, competing unattached, captured the men's high hump with a leap of 2.25m.

Also winning was Markino Buckley of MVP. A member of Jamaica's team to the World Championships in Japan last year, Buckley won the 400m hurdles Olympic Development in 50.02 as his teammate Gregory Lyttle had to settle for third in 51.77.

Still good

Veteran Chris Williams, competing in his pet event the 200m, showed that he is still a very good half-lap runner as he finished second in 20.44 with MVP's Nesta Carter taking third in 20.67.

Dwight Thomas (10.14), Williams (10.15) and Ainsley Waugh (10.29), helped by a 2.3 metres per second wind, finished third, fourth and seventh respectively in the 100 metres.

An expected clash between world 100m record holder Asafa Powell and world double sprint champion Tyson Gay on the anchor leg of the men's 4x100m did not materialise as Powell missed the event due to a slight shoulder strain. The MVP quartet of Darrel Brown, Michael Frater, Carter and Waugh finished second in 38.91 as the United States Adidas team, anchored by Gay, raced to a world-leading time of 38.51.