Source: Jamaica Gleaner
SEVERAL top Jamaican athletes will be in action Sunday at the New York Grand Prix World Continental Tour Gold meet at the Icahn Stadium.
Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah will have her second outing this season when she lines up in the women’s 100 metres at 12:03 p.m. (Jamaica time). Thompson Herah had an underwhelming performance in the 100m in Eugene, Oregon, where she finished at the back of the field in a pedestrian 11.30 seconds and she will be seeking redemption tomorrow. She will face Americans Aleia Hobbs with a season’s best 10.88, Celera Barnes, with 11.02, and Kennedy Blackmon, with 11.06.
One of the most competitive events on the programme will be the women’s 100m hurdles scheduled for 12:12 p.m. World Championships gold medallist Danielle Williams, with a season’s best 12.46 seconds, and Yanique Thompson (12.59) are in a quality field which includes world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria. The Nigerian has a season’s best of 12.40. Also down for the race are World Indoor champion Devynn Charlton of the Bahamas with a season’s best 12.49 and Americans Tonea Marshall (12.42), Alaysha Johnson (12.57) and Kendra Harrison (12.60).
Following impressive 2024 runs in the 200 and 400m hurdles, American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will make her season debut in the women’s 400m. Two Jamaicans, Stacy Ann Williams and Junelle Bromfield, will compete in this event.
Ashanti Moore and Jodean Williams will contest the women’s 200m where American Tamara Clarke, with a season’s best 22.21 seconds, is the fastest in the field.
After making his 2024 debut at the Racers Grand Prix meet, Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell will renew battle with American Trey Cunningham in the men’s 110m hurdles. Broadbell finished second in 13.24 behind the American who won in 13.12 at the Racers meet. American Daniel Roberts is the fastest man in the field this year with a season’s best 13.11.
Zandrion Barnes will compete in the men’s 400m where he will face the likes of Kirani James of Grenada and South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk, the event’s world record holder.
Two Jamaicans will also be involved in field events. Both Carey McLeod and Tissana Hickling will compete in the long jump.