Smith locks in second national title

World Championships representative Ackelia Smith became a double champion at the JAAA Puma National Senior and Junior Championships, yesterday, winning the women's triple jump with a distance of 13.95 metres to follow up on her long-jump victory on opening day.

Smith, who was second last year, won the event ahead of Jade-Ann Dawkins of Kansas State University, while NCAA Outdoor champion Shauntae Foreman of Clemson University ended third with 13.49m.

Sharing the spotlight yesterday with Smith was Doha 2019 long jump world champion Tajay Gayle, who won the men's event with a season’s best 8.37m to move to world No. 7, securing his third national senior title in the event. Jordan Turner of Louisiana State University was second with 8.22m, while Nikolai Williams, competing unattached, ended third with 7.89m.

In another field event final for seniors, Ralford Mullings of the University of Oklahoma, the recent NCAA Division I Outdoor champion, made it back-to-back titles, winning the men's discus with 64.31m. Multiple-time champion Fedrick Dacres was second with 62.97m, while third place went to Racquil Broderick of the University of South Carolina with 62.87m.

In the 800m, defending champion Kelly-Ann Beckford and national record holder Navasky Anderson were crowned female and male champions.

Beckford led from start to finish to win the women's event in 2:02.74, ahead of 1500m champion Adelle Tracey, who was second in 2:03.93, with Leanna Lewis of the University of Iowa third in 2:04.82.

It was one-way traffic for Anderson in the men's 800m as he improved on his second-place finish from last year, clocking 1:47.29. Kirk Dawkins of Florida A&M University was second in 1:50.26, with third going to Dujhauntai Lewis of Racers Track Club in 1:56.85.

A new champion was crowned in the men's 400m hurdles, the final event of the night, as Assinie Wilson of Titans, the event leader, shook off the challenges of Malik James-King of Titans and Romario Stewart of The Mico University College to win in 48.91 seconds. Stewart finished second in a personal best 49.43, with James-King, third in 50.07.

An interesting battle is expected in the women's 100m hurdles following yesterday's semifinal round, where two-time World Under-20 champion Kerrica Hill is the fastest qualifier. Hill won her heat in a season’s best 12.69 seconds, running into a negative wind of 2.3m/s. 

Defending champion Megan Simmonds won her heat in 12.79 to be the second-fastest qualifier. Demisha Roswell (12.74s) and Jada Spencer (12.96s) are the next fastest qualifiers.

Last year's second-place finisher, Demario Prince of Baylor University, is the fastest qualifier in the men's 110m hurdles, winning his heat in 13.38. Shaquane Gordon (13.51), Sharvis Simmonds (13.52) and Jerome Campbell (13.63) are the other leading qualifiers.

In the girls' Under-20 event, Tiana Marshall of Wolmer's Trust High School for Girls looked comfortable in advancing. She clocked 13.57 to win her heat despite running into a negative wind of 1.7m/s.

Her teammate Akeelah Bell was next best with 13.69 and they are followed by Ruana Pryce of Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha) and Tashana Godfrey of Edwin Allen, both with 13.77.

Tajoneal Gordon of Kingston College leads the Under-20 boys' 110m hurdles with 13.83. Marques Page of St Jago (13.94), Noel Wright (13.97) and Jonathon Clarke (14.12) are the next best qualifiers.