Warren Weir won the men’s 200 metres in a personal best time of 19.79 seconds (wind 0.9) at the Jamaica National Championships in Kingston Sunday night. Second was last year’s Diamond League winner Nickel Ashmeade in 20.06; and third Jason Livermore in 20.13. Racers’ other entry in the final, Jason Young, came fifth in 20.24.
Weir’s time was the second fastest in the world this year, and put a dramatic exclamation point on an exciting four days of competition to select the island’s team to the World Championships in Moscow in August.
In the men’s 400 metres, Edino Steele repeated his fifth-place showing of last year to once more gain for himself a place in the 4×400 metres relay squad. This time he clocked 45.53. The first three places went to 20-year old Javere Bell (45.08), 18-year old Javon Francis (45.24) and Akheem Gauntlett (45.48).
On the women’s side Rosemarie Whyte, in her second race back from injury, came seventh in 51.81 — behind the winner Novlene Williams-Mills, who did 50.01.
Weir’s next competitive outing on the track will be this Saturday 29 June at the Edmonton International Track Classic in Canada.
