Alfred steals the show in Budapest 100m

JAMAICAN athletes failed to secure a victory at yesterday’s Gyulai Istvan Memorial Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, a World Continental Tour Gold meet in Budapest.

Tina Clayton, Rushell Clayton and Rajindra Campbell were the best-placed Jamaicans after finishing second in their respective events.

The women’s 100 metres was billed as the race of the meet with four Jamaicans battling the brilliant St Lucian Julien Alfred. The powerful Alfred stole the show with a composed win against a slightly negative wind (-0.3mps). She clocked a season’s best 10.87 seconds to finish ahead of Clayton who was second in 10.97. Brianna Lyston (11.01) ran on late to clip 2016 and 2020 Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (11.04) for third. Jonielle Smith finished sixth in 11.12. Former Jamaican athlete Christania Williams, now representing Austria, was seventh in 11.28.

Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton continued her good form this season in the women’s 400m hurdles with a second-place finish in 53.34 seconds. She was beaten by American Jasmine Jones, who won in 52.91, while Shian Salmon finished fourth with a season’s best best 54.81.

Jamaica’s other runner-up finish came in the men’s shot put, where the consistent Rajindra Campbell produced a throw of 21.52m. Italy’s Leonardo Fabri won with 22.04m.

There were also top-three finishes for Ackeem Blake and Ackelia Smith. Blake was second in the men’s 100m in 10.04. Fellow Jamaican Nishion Ebanks (10.05) tied for fourth with South Africa’s Akani Simbine while Rohan Watson finished seventh in 10.16. Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon won the event in 9.99.

World Championships representative Ackelia Smith finished third in the women’s long jump with 6.67m. The United States claimed the top two places, with Monae’ Nichols winning with 6.88m and Claire Bryant second with 6.72m.

There were also encouraging performances from Kerrica Hill, Lamara Distin, Navasky Anderson and Wayne Pinnock, who all finished fourth in their respective events.

Hill continued her steady improvement in the women’s 100m hurdles, registering a personal best 12.50 seconds. Masai Russell of the United States continued her winning streak by taking the event in 12.33 ahead of compatriots Rayniah Jones (12.47) and Alaysha Johnson (12.49).

Anderson finished fourth in the men’s 800m with a season’s best 1:43.62. Distin cleared 1.94m for fourth in the women’s high jump, while Pinnock leapt 8.08m for fourth in the men’s long jump. Nikaoli Williams was sixth with 7.88m, as world leader Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece continued his dominance with a winning leap of 8.33m.

Other Jamaicans competing at the meet included Gary Card, who finished fifth in the 200m in 20.28, Michael Campbell eighth in 20.81, and Dominic Williams ninth in 21.22. In the women’s 200m, Nickisha Pryce was sixth in 22.80, while Krystal Sloley finished seventh in 23.40.

In the 110m hurdles, Rasheed Broadbell placed sixth in 13.25 seconds, Tyler Mason was seventh in 13.38, and Orlando Bennett, eighth in 13.40. World record holder Ja’kobe Tharp of the United States won in 12.85.