The weather in New York was far from favorable for track and field – rainy, windy and cold – but Caribbean athletes, particularly the Jamaicans, found a way to shine among their rivals who are accustomed to the temperature hovering in the chilly 40s and 50s.
Leading the charge for the sprinters was Florida resident Jamaica’s defending World 200meter champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, who took the women’s 200 meters in 22.53secs (-1.3m/s) ahead of her fast-closing compatriot Anneshia McLaughlin (22.63). Sherone Simpson, another Jamaican, finished fourth in 22.96.
The men’s half-lap also spelled victory for Jamaica, as home-grown Olympic 200m bronze medalist Warren Weir clocked an effortless 20.11 season best over Panamanian Alonzo Edwards in 20.38, also a season best for him. Edwards, the surprise silver medalist at the 2009 World Championships and whose mother is Jamaican, has been battling injuries since the Games.
In the men’s sprint hurdles, former World champion Ryan Braithwaite of Barbados also shared the Caribbean spotlight, winning the event in a season’s best 13.19. Cuba’s rising star Orlando Ortega finished second in 13.24.
In the longer hurdles, Olympic bronze medalist Javier Culson (48.53) of Puerto Rico lost to the USA’s Michael Tinsley, who registered a season best 48.43. Cuba Omar Cisneros, Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T), Jehue Gordon and Jamaica’s Leford Green were fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
Veteran Aleen Bailey of Jamaica also brought some Caribbean heat to the women’s 100m, winning in 11.37. In the men’s version, however, the US struck one-two with Tyson Gay 10.02 and Ryan Bailey 10.15 (season best) over Keston Bledman of T&T (10.16), and Jamaica’s Nesta Carter (10.24), Jacques Harvey (10.29), Nickel Ashmeade (10.31) and Kemar Bailey-Cole (10.33).
In the much anticipated women’s 400mter battle, Jamaica managed fourth at best with Novlene Williams-Mills clocking 51.12. Amantle Montsho of Botswana, the defending World champion and current world leader, went sub-50 for a meet record of 49.91. The American pair of Natasha Hastings (in a season best 50.24) and Francena McCorory, 51.06, finished second and third, respectively.
In the men’s 400m B race, Jamaica took the first four spots with Mario Forsythe, who is now focusing on the 200m, winning in 46.65. Behind him were Dewayne Barrett 46.85, Allodin Fothergill (47.01), Nicholas Maitland (47.05), Renny Quow of T&T (47.06) and Tabarie Henry of the Virgin Islands in 47.48.
And in the women’s 400meters B race, Jamaica’s Patricia Hall won in 51.85 over Britain’s Shana Cox (52.01) and Jamaica’s Shericka Williams (season best 52.15).
In the junior section, Jamaica ran away with the two 4x400meters relays. Munro College boys clocked 3:14.79 to defeat Manchester High (3:19.06), also of Jamaica, and Vere Technical girls (3:42.46) defeated their compatriots St. Jago High School (3:45.31).