Yohan Blake completes sprint double at Jamaican trials with 200m success
The 2012 Olympic 100m and 200m silver medallist clocks 19.97 seconds at the National Stadium in Kingston to add to earlier 100m win
Yohan Blake won the 200 metres in 19.97 seconds to complete a sprint double at the Jamaican nationals and world championship trials on Sunday.
Running in lane five, the 2012 Olympic 100m and 200m silver medallist was quickest off the curve and powered away to a big win over Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Dwyer, with 2013 world silver medallist Warren Weir third.
“It feels great to be back in the sub-20 club,” Blake said after clocking his first sub-20 second time since 2012.
“I’m just enjoying the moment and riding the wave of euphoria, and now will head back to training and continue what I’m doing.”
Former world champion Blake recorded a season-best 9.90 seconds to capture the national 100m title on Friday, with Olympic champion Usain Bolt having skipped the meeting in his preparations for his farewell at the London world championships in August.
Newcomer Sashalee Forbes ran a personal best 22.71 seconds to win the women’s 200m ahead of Simone Facey and Jordan Williams.
Danielle Williams, the reigning world champion, produced a confidence-boosting career best 12.56 seconds to win the 100m hurdles.
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“I did expect to run something fast coming in, but wasn’t sure what it would be. But I’m satisfied with getting under 12.6, I can’t complain about getting a personal best,” Williams said.
Olympic and world championship bronze medallist Shericka Jackson returned a season best 50.05 seconds in a close finish to take the 400m title ahead of NCAA champion Chrisann Gordon and 2007 world bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills.
It's YOHAN BLAKE - our double sprint champion! He takes the Men's 200m in 19.97s, 5th fastest in the world this year. #JaSeniorTrials2017 pic.twitter.com/W6Gglrb8Ab— FLOW Jamaica (@FLOWJamaica) June 25, 2017
“I’m pretty comfortable ... last year this time I was running like 50.4, so I’m really happy with the time at this point of the season, so I will just work with coach to see how much I can improve my PB (personal best) later this year,” Jackson said.
Rio Olympic relay silver medallist Nathon Allen dug deep to hold off a fast finishing Demish Gaye to win his first national 400m title in 44.58 seconds.
Shot put world bronze medallist O’Dayne Richards threw 21.29m to retain his national title.
