Jamaica's veronica Campbell-Brown waves after winning the Women's 100 meters at the Diamond League Athletics meeting on Sunday May 15. in Shanghai, China. American Lashinda Demus. the meet's record holder, finished runner up in a season's best time of 54.58 seconds, with Olympic and World champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica coming third, also in an SB 54.96. The best of the other Caribbean performances came from Jamaican Dwight Thomas. He also finished fourth in the men's 110 hurdles, clocking a season's best 13.31.
American Carmelita Jeter winning the women's 100 metres final in 1 0.93 seconds at the Samsung Diamond League meet at Crystal Palace Stadium in London, yesterday. Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce right) was third in 11. 10 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste was second in 1 0.97 while Jamaicans Schillonie Calvert (11.23) and Aleen Bailey (11.36) were fourth and seventh respectively.
Jamaica is drawn in Group A', along with Cuba, Canada, Chile and Venezuela. Group 'B' consists of Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semifinal where the top team of group A' will play the runner-up of Group 'B', and vice versa. The semifinal winners will advance to the Final. "This is a brand new experience for me and I am excited for the opportunity," said [Monique Salmon]. "I am new to the team, so I am looking forward to learning and contributing in every way possible. This is a dream come true."
The island's lone female jockey, Georgina Sergeon, made her long-awaited return to the saddle at Caymanas Park on Saturday, February 1 after she was seriously injured in a riding spill just over two years ago. The 23-year-old Sergeon secured two rides on the 10-race programme: GOOD LIFE, who finished third at odds of 11-1 in the second race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds; and the rank outsider, QUIET RULER, who finished down the track in the eighth race over 1200 metres. On Saturday, January 21, 2012, Sergeon fell from her mount, TRICKY TRAIN, after the filly clipped the heels of another horse in a crowded field at the home turn. She came out of the spill with serious injury and had to be hospitalised. Having injured her spine and lower back, Sergeon had to undergo surgery, followed by a long period of rehabilitation.
"Overall, I'm just happy to come away with a win," said [Fraser-Pryce]. "Today I didn't run according to how I wanted but still came out with a viotory. That made me happy. There is a lot more room for improvement in the 200m, and I'm looking forward to more races to see how best I can put a complete race together." The men's 100m also featured three Jamaicans, but it was American Justin Gatlin. 9.97 - the Olympic lOOm bronze medallist, who crossed the line first in a tight finish; barely bettering his compatriot Mike Rodgers and Jamaican Olympic 4x1 00m relay gold-medal winner Neata Carter, who both posted season-best times of 9.99. Jamaican Shericka Williams struggled in sixth place, despite posting a season best 52.23 with 200m specialist [Felix] running second in 50.19 and Great Britain powerhouse Christine Ohuruogu finishing third in a 50.53 season's best.
Vanessa Gidden and Simone Edwards were in impressive form as Jamaica's female basketbailers romped to a historic 69-58 victory over the Virgin Islands, to claim the team's first ever medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
"When I look at the 200m, the record is so far out there, so for me I just try to improve each year and it's definitely not at the top of my list," said Felix touching on the records. "I never like to say never as far as the record is concerned but realistically speaking, I do think that they are very fast; I don't think at least in the 200m where my focus is. I don't think that record is going anytime soon. I can be wrong because track is like that, where amazing things happen that you are not suspecting." "I love running with Veronica and I love high-quality races and I wish we could meet more, it's just how it works out sometimes," Felix added.
"She is well trained and trains hard. She has injuries here or there but knows she is being depended on," he said. "She has delivered on three other occasions and will be there to deliver again." "It's kind of overwhelming in the sense that the team will be depending on me to take them to victory. Normally, it's Sheckema, now they're depending on me. I have a lot of nerves but I am sure I will pull through for my team," she said.
