Two stories from the Cayman Invitational

Bajans pick up silver and bronze at Cayman Invitational

From The Barbados Advocate

Barbados’ two best 110 metre hurdlers picked up silver and bronze medals on Wednesday at the Cayman Invitational in George Town, Grand Cayman.

Former world champion Ryan Brathwaite finished second in 13.26, while Shane Brathwaite ran a season’s best 13.44 seconds. Ryan’s time is the joint second fastest time in the world so far this year while this was Shane’s first meet as a professional athlete. Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment won in 13.25 seconds, a slight improvement over the 13.26 seconds he ran last week at the Jamaica Invitational.

Usain Bolt opened his season at the meet and he won the 100 metres in 10.09 seconds, his slowest ever time in a final at that distance. Bolt’s countryman, Kemar Bailey-Cole was second with the same time while Daniel Bailey of Antigua was third in 10.23 seconds.

The United States’ Carmelita Jeter scorched the track to win the women’s 100 metres in a world leading 10.95 seconds. Barbara Pierre of the US was second in 11.02 while Kerron Stewart of Jamaica was third in 11.10 seconds.

Lashawn Merritt, a former Olympic and World Champion over 400 metres, won the Men’s 200 metres in a season’s best 20.26 seconds, bettering the 20.34 seconds he ran last month. Jamaica’s Jason Livermore was second in 20.65 and Joel Redhead of Grenada was third in 20.93 seconds.

The Men’s 400 metres was easily won by Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic in 45.35 seconds. Jarrin Solomon of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 45.65 seconds, while Ryker Hylton of Jamaica was third in 45.95 seconds.

Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills was also an easy winner in the women’s equivalent in 50.73 seconds. The United States took second and third with Moushaumi Robinson in 51.19 seconds while Joanna Atkins finished in 51.56 seconds.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=30506

Barber bags Cayman gold

By Kwame Laurence [email protected]

Aleesha Barber produced the sixth fastest legal time of her career to strike gold in the Cayman International Invitational women’s 100 metres hurdles, in the Cayman Islands, late on Wednesday.

The Trinidad and Tobago athlete stopped the clock at 13.04 seconds to beat Colombia’s Bridgette Merlano (13.11) into second spot. Veteran Jamaican Deloreen Ennis (13.14) finished third.

Barber’s winning time was her fastest since the 12.91 she had clocked in Oregon, USA, on June 12, 2010. Two weeks earlier, in North Carolina, she had produced a personal best 12.85 seconds, which still stands as the national record.

Wednesday’s race was Barber’s fourth 100 hurdles outing in 2013. The 25-year-old athlete opened her outdoor campaign on April 5 with a wind-assisted 13.39 seconds clocking at the Florida Relays. Eight days later, in Georgia, she improved to 13.10. And in Kansas, on April 20, Barber got to the line in 13.34.

Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist, Jarrin Solomon was also in fine form at the Cayman International Invitational, the T&T quartermiler finishing second in the men’s 400m in 45.65 seconds. The clocking was Solomon’s fastest this season and the third fastest of his career.

Olympic 400m silver medallist, Luguelin Santos of Dominican Republic won in 45.35, while third spot went to Jamaica’s Riker Hylton (45.95).

T&T’s Jamaal James returned a time of three minutes, 53.43 seconds to finish sixth in the men’s 1500m event. American De’Sean Turner won the race in 3:52.26.

Usain Bolt was the headline act at the Cayman International Invitational. The sextuple Olympic champion topped the men’s 100m field in 10.09 seconds. His fellow-Jamaican, Kemar Bailey Cole finished second, also in 10.09. Antiguan Daniel Bailey was third in 10.23. The race was Bolt’s first 100m outing this season.

Carmelita Jeter was the class of the women’s 100m field, the American winning in 10.95 seconds, from her compatriot, Barbara Pierre (11.02), and Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart (11.10).

For more on this story go to:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Barber-bags-Cayman-gold-206871701.html

Footnote:

LaShawn Merritt wins 200 at Cayman nvitational

Olympian sprinter LaShawn Merritt’s ran 20.26 to win the 200 meters at the Cayman International Invitational earlier this week.

It’s Merritt’s second win this season.

The video of his race can be found at http://www.athletenewswire.com/news/lashawn-wins-cayman/2013/05/09