Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, of Jamaica, ran a Meet record of 10.93 seconds in the 100m for victory at the ATL Puerto Rico Athletics Classic held at Estadio Francisco Montaner Stadium, Ponce, Puerto Rico on May 12. Thompson-Herah took command of the field and ran a control race to stop the clock. Michelle Lee-Aye (Trinidad and Tobago) was second, in 11.06, while Shania Collins (USA) posted a time of 11.08 for third. Thompson-Herah winning time of 10.93 is 0.04 slower than her season best of 10.89 that she posted at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in California on April 16. Of course, the current 100m world lead is held by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who posted a blistering 10.67 in Nairobi Kenya on May 7th.
Trayvon Bromell led a trio of Americans in the men’s 100m final. Bromell won the event in a meet record 10.92 seconds, ahead of Brandon Carnes (10.02) and Kyree King (10.11). The confident and in-form Bromell is hoping to erase a disappointing 2021 season where he finished 7th in the 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Other winners included Ryan Crouser (shot put), Athing Mu (400m), Kirani James (400m), Hansle Parchment (110m hurdles), Steven Gardiner (300m), Sandi Morris (pole vault) and Alaysha Johnson (100m hurdles).
Courser cruised to victory
Reigning Olympic shot-put champion American Ryan Crouser once again proved his quality as he took the men’s shot put crown with a meet record throw of 22.75m. Crouser’s compatriots Payton Otterdahl (20.97m) and Andrew Liskowitz (20.55m) took the minor spots. Crouser, the world record holder in the shot put (23.37m), is coming off a 2021 season in which he was undefeated in the event. Crouser’s dominance in the shot put is undeniable as he continues to decimate the competition by throwing bombs of over 22.0m.
Johnson spoils Camacho-Quinn homecoming, Parchment wins
Twenty-five-year-old Alaysha Johnson chose the Puerto Rico Athletics Classic to post a lifetime best and meet record 12.50 seconds to narrowly defeat the reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.52) in the women’s 100m hurdles race. Johnson who had a previous lifetime best of 12.69 which she set in Gainesville, Florida back in March 2017, is signaling her intent for more success for the 2022 season.
Hansle Parchment ran a season best 13.15 seconds to win the men’s 110m hurdles ahead of the American duo of Devon Allen (13.20) and Jamal Britt (13.30). Parchment, the reigning Olympic 110m hurdles champion ran a gritty race for the victory. Allen, who is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, ran a season best time of 13.11 seconds in the 110m hurdles at the Penn Relays on April 30, 2022.
Kirani James is back
Former World Junior, World Youth and Olympic 400m champion Kirani James, ran a control race to win the men’s 400m title in a season best time of 44.70. James finished ahead of Jamaica’s Sean Bailey (45.42) and USA’s Trevor Stewart (45.50). James, the 29-year-old Grenadian sports ambassador, who has overcome the effects of Graves’ disease is on the rise again. He earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games posting a time of 44.19 while setting a season best 43.88. The former NCAA 400m champion for the University of Alabama has a lifetime best 43.74 that he established in July 2014.
Mu, Gardner, Russell wins
Reigning 800m Olympic champion Athing Mu showed her versatility and quality by taking the women’s 400m race in a season best time of 50.52, ahead of fellow American Gabby Scott (51.42) and Jamaica’s Jenelle Bromfield (51.82). Mu ran an even race and took control at the 300m mark before powering her way home for victory. Mu, the 19-year-old New Jersey native, posted a personal best time of 1:22.74 in the 600m at the Penn Relays on April 30, 2022. She is clearly on track to better her 800m personal best mark and US national record mark of 1.55.04, which she set in Eugene, Oregon on August 21, 2021.
Reigning 400m World and Olympic champion Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas, took the men’s 300m in a personal best 31.52 seconds ahead of USA’s Vernon Norwood (31.81) and Jamaica’s Nathon Allen (32.04).
Janieve Russell led a trio of Jamaicans in the women’s 400m hurdles race by taking the event in a season best 54.09 ahead of Shiann Rashana Salmon (54.43) and Rushell Clayton (54.90). Both Salmon and Clayton posted lifetime best performances.
Other winners
USA’s Clayton Murphy won the men’s 800m in 1:45.54. Great Britain’s Adelle Tracey won the women’s 1500m in 4:05.96 ahead of USA’s Allie Wilson (4:06.37) and Sadi Henderson (4:07.10). USA’s Donald Scott won the men’s triple jump with a personal best leap of 16.88m. Sandi Morris (USA) took the women’s pole vault title with a 4.72m performance. Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas won the men’s high jump title with a meet record leap of 2.22m. Ireland’s Ese Brume leaped 6.90m (+3.5mps) for victory in the women’s long jump.
The next ATL Meet is the Duval County Challenge, Jacksonville, Florida set for Saturday May 21, 2022, from 8.00 pm to 10.00pm.
Edited by Raymond Byfield
Thompson -Herah picture courtesy of her facebook page
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