Whyte - File

DUBLIN, Ireland (CMC):

Jamaica's national 400-metre champion, Rosemarie Whyte, captured the women's 400 metres at the inaugural Morton Memorial track and field meeting this past weekend.

Running in front of a sell-out stadium consisting of some 3,000 supporters, Whyte posted 51.53 seconds to take the event ahead of American Debbie Dunn (51.85).

Another Jamaican sprinter, Clora Williams, took third in a time of 52.59. Last month at the Jamaica Nationals, Whyte had surprised her senior challengers, including World Championship bronze medallist Novlene Williams and two-time world relay silver medallist Shericka Williams, to win the women's 400-metre title.

The 19-year-old currently holds the top time for a Caribbean female quarter-miler this season, following her 50.05-second career best performance to win at the National Stadium in St Andrew.

In other results at the Morton Stadium on Friday night, Jamaican Mario Forsythe and Bahamian Andrae Williams copped second place finishes. Forsythe stopped the clock at a seasonal best of 10.30 in a very close 100 metres.

American Bernard Williams just edged the Jamaican with his 10.29.

Barbados' Andrew Hinds finished third in 10.32, out-leaning Ernie Wiggins (10.33) of the US.

In the meantime, Williams, a member of the Bahamas' last two World Championship 4x400 silver medal relay teams, ran 45.75 for second place in the men's 400.

American Greg Nixon won the race in 45.61, while another Bahamian, Micheal Mathieu, crossed the line at 45.95 for third.

The three were the only athletes to break the 46-second barrier at the meet.