Campbell, Williams highlight the Caribbean performances on the track at Mt SAC Relays 

Veronica Campbell of Jamaica in action 
(Photo by Gary Smith)

by Gary Smith
for Caribbean Net News

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

WALNUT, USA:  Jamaica's Olympic 200 meters gold medallist Veronica Campbell and 400m runner Novlene Williams highlighted the Caribbean performances at the 47th annual Mt SAC Relays in Walnut, California, on Sunday.

The 22 year-old Campbell, who won the bronze at the Athens Olympic Games, ran away with the women’s 100 meters invitational dash in a wind-assisted 10.98 seconds. Williams was also in sizzling form when she won the women’s 400m.

Campbell a senior at the University of Arkansas defeated Americans Halima Decree (11.25) and Joanna Hayes (11.45), who was the gold medal winner in the 100 meter hurdles in Athens last summer. In other invitational races British Virgin Island's Tahesia Harrigan placed second in the sixth heat in 11.53 and Desarie Walwyn (SKN) took second in heat four in 11.85.

In the men's 100m invitational, Jamaica's Michael Frater finished third in 10.10 behind Americans Aaron Armstrong (10.00) and Coby Miller (10.08). Frater's MVP teammate Ainsley Waugh ran 10.23 to take sixth spot. In other 100m actions Trinidad and Tobago's Johann Jack placed second in heat one in 10.34 to finished 15th overall. Other Caribbean entries running in the dash were Winston Smith- 10.47 and Orlando Morgan (10.48) of Jamaica.

Williams stole the spot light to win the women's 400m in 51.49. The Jamaican found another gear in the final straight to leave the likes of Lashinda Demus -51.79, Australia’s Jana Pittman- 52.33 and Sydney 2000 Olympic star Marion Jones who finished down the track in 55.03.

Felix Sanchez from the Dominican Republic finished in sixth placed the men's open race. After running 10.45 and 20.88 a week ago, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion trailed Great Britain's Malachi Davis in a season best 46.32. Davis' winning time was 45.93 and he only edged James Davis (45.95) and Jamaica's indoor 200m record holder Omar Brown (46.00).

Former Jamaica junior star Marvin Anderson won race three of the men's 200m in with a wind-aided 20.36. Anderson's time was only bettered by U.S. indoor record holder Wallace Spearmon who ran the year's fastest time of 19.97. Bahamas' quarter miler Avard Moncur also broke 21-second when he finish second in race two in 20.94. 

Walwyn ran a personal best 23.77 to win race three of the sixth races in the women’s event.

Aneta Denton of Jamaica/Arkansas, won the women’s 800m in 2:03.94. Sandie Richards (2:08.92) and Aisha Hume (2:10.74) both clocked season bests.

Mardrea Hyman of Jamaica turned the tables on teammate Korine Hinds in the women's 1500m. Hyman recorded 4:16.84 (season best) to beat countrywoman and 3000m Steeplechase world leader Hinds, who came home in 4:17.00. 

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