Howell, Ahye strike gold in 100m at Barbados Grand Prix

The Cayman Islands’ Davonte Howell and Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye won the respective men’s and women’s 100m events at the inaugural Barbados Grand Prix held at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex on Saturday.

Howell, a two-time Carifta Games 100m gold medallist, produced a quick 10.15 to take the men’s 100m ahead of BVI’s Jaleel Croal (10.28) and Barbados’ Justin Maynard (10.32).

Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, an Olympic and World Championship finalist in both the 100 and 200m, won the women’s equivalent in 11.41 ahead of the Barbados pair of Danae Niles (11.51) and Kishawna Niles (11.56).

Jamaican Kadrian Goldson ran 10.46 to easily win the men’s invitational 100m ahead of Barbados’ Dahrion Belgrave (10.83) and Bahamian Shomari Shepherd-Rollins (10.83)

Hometown hero Sada Williams won the women’s 400m in 51.15 ahead of Bahamian Printassia Johnson (51.29) and Jamaica’s Shana-Kaye Anderson (52.72) while the men’s equivalent went to Barbados’ Desean Boyce in 45.78 ahead of countrymen Kyle Gayle (46.04) and Jonathan Jones (46.43).

The BVI’s Beyonce Defreitas took the women’s 200m title in 23.06 ahead of Barbados’ Aniya Nurse (23.83) and American Naj Watson (23.89) while Barbados’ Ross Walrond ran 20.63 to win the men’s event ahead of Jamaica’s Demar Francis (20.68) and Barbados’ Kuron Griffith (20.74).

Jamaica’s recently crowned National champion Kelly-Ann Beckford dominated the women’s 800m with 2:01.28, more than four seconds ahead of Barbadian runner-up Layla Haynes (2:05.91) and her countrywoman Ashlyn Simmons (2:11.17).

Trinidad & Tobago’s Zalen Nelson won the men’s equivalent in 1:50.47 ahead of Barbados’ Brandon Hinds (1:50.68) and Favion Gollop (1:52.66).

Barbados’ Adeyah Brewster won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.44 ahead of her countrywomen Brieanna Boyce (14.06) and Alika Harewood (14.31).

The hosts were also victorious in the men’s 110m hurdles through Rasheem Brown (13.50) over Jamaica’s Odario Phillips (13.57) and the USA’s Tai Brown (13.83).

Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team of Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, Christopher Taylor, Odaine McPherson and Kadrian Goldson produced 38.46 to win ahead of Barbados (38.85) and Grenada (39.16).

Unfortunately, Jamaica’s time doesn’t improve their world ranking of 18th place based on their 38.45 from the Paris Olympics, thus meaning they have yet to qualify for the Tokyo World Championships.

The minimum requirement is 38.19 which they will attempt to get at the London Diamond League on July 19.

The women’s quartet of Jodean Williams, Jonielle Smith, Serena Cole and Krystal Sloley, running on their own after Barbados pulled up during the third leg, ran 43.35.

Jamaica’s mixed 4x400m relay squad of Jeremy Bembridge, Shanakaye Anderson, Bovel McPherson and Roneisha McGregor won in 3:15.06 ahead of Barbados (3:15.80) and the Bahamas (3:16.38).

Jamaica are currently clinging on to a spot in the event in Tokyo with their 3:11.06 from the Paris Olympics finding them in 16th place on the rankings.
(Sportsmax)