Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport
American teenager Bianca Knight (left) powers home to stun Jamaica's 2007 world 100m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown (second right) in the women's 200m at the Jamaica International Invitational meet on Saturday night at the National Stadium. Knight clocked a personal best 22.62, while Campbell-Brown crossed the line in 22.93. Lashaunte Moore (second left) of the United States was fifth in 23.32, while Jamaica's Aleen Bailey (right) was sixth in 23.41. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Jamaica's world 100 metres gold medalist, Veronica Campbell-Brown, was surprised by 19-year-old American Bianca Knight in the 200 metres at the fifth Jamaica International Invitational meet on Saturday night.
Knight, the 2005 World Youth Championships 100m gold medallist, proved strongest in the final 50 metres to clock a personal best 22.62 seconds, with Campbell-Brown second in 22.93 and another American, Shalonda Solomon, third in 23.27.
Campbell-Brown was not perturbed by the defeat.
"It's all part of the process, you win some and lose some," she said. "I am happy that I finished healthy. I know that there is a lot of competition this year so I am training hard. Everybody wants to win so you have to be mentally tough and prepared to take it race by race."
Knight was pleased with her performance as she went into the race seeking a win and a personal best and she got both.
"This was my first race as a professional athlete so I was pretty tense. I did not know how I would do. I am pleased with the way I ran," she said.
Very good meet
It was overall a very good meet for Knight as earlier she had clocked 11.11 for third, to register her best time ever over 100m.
That 100m event went in a world-leading 10.96 to Jamaica's World Championships relay silver medallist, Kerron Stewart, with another American, Marashevet Hooker, second in 11.01. The previous 2008 best was 11.06 by Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste.
Stewart's 100m run was one of five world-leading times registered at the meet. In addition to Usain Bolt's near world record time of 9.76 in the men's 100m, Americans Tyson Gay in the men's 200m and Kerron Clement and Lashinda Demus in the men's and women's 400m hurdles, respectively, also posted world best times.
OUTCLASSED RIVALS
Like Bolt in the 100m, Gay outclassed his rivals to win the 200m in 20.00 ahead of Jamaicans Chris Williams (20.78) and Marvin Anderson (20.88).
Gay was satisfied with his time.
"I felt good. People were expecting below 20 seconds but I know that when the time comes to perform I am going to perform well," he said, adding that he could have gone faster around the bend.
Clement looked awesome in clocking 47.79 to defeat Jamaica's Danny McFarlane (48.74) and Michael Tinsely, 48.84. The World 400 metres hurdles champion beat the previous 2008 best of 48.32 clocked by Bershawn Jackson, also of the United States, in Lawrence, Kansas on April 19.
Renewed love affair
Demus, who won gold here for the United States at the 2002 World Junior Championships, renewed her love affair with the National Stadium track. The 2005 World Championships silver medallist clocked 54.83 to go under the 54.97 her compatriot Tiffany Williams clocked on April 12. Shevon Stoddart of Jamaica was second in 55.68 while another American, Markita James, was third in 56.79.
Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards blamed a long delay between events for her relatively slow time of 50.60 in the women's 400m.
"I felt cold going onto the track. I wanted to run much faster than that but happy with the win nonetheless."
Richards, whose 2007 season was marred by illness, said she was ready to do well in 2008.
"I am healthy this season. Training is going very well and I know I am going to do a lot better this year," she said.
Jamaica's national champion, Novlene Williams, was second in the women's 400m in 51.63 while Sonita Sutherland took third in 52.94.
National champion Sanjay Ayre, 45.68, won the men's 400m from Costa Rica's Nery Brines (45.78), with former national champion Michael Blackwood third in 46.20.
Kenyan Josephet Kithill held off a determined challenge from American Shane Stroup to take the men's 1500m in 3:47.51. Stroup was second in 3:47.85. The top Jamaican finisher in the event was Andre Drummond, who was fifth in 3:52.61, just ahead of Bellefield High schoolboy, Kemoy Campbell, 3:53.00.
In the field events Dorian Scott, the world leader in the men's shot put, threw 20.51m to win from Americans Dan Taylor, 20.43m, and Noah Bryant, 19.70m.
In women's long jump, Funmi Jimoh of the United States won ahead of Jamaica's Jovanee Jarrett. Both did the same distance, 6.57m. Elva Goulbourne, 6.56m, was third.
