KINGSTON, Jamaica: Rasheed Dwyer won the men’s 200m at the Jamaican athletics championships yesterday, holding off season-leader Warren Weir as four new names nabbed titles on the final day of the meeting.
Dwyer, the former World University Games champion, produced a personal best 20.04 seconds to upset Weir, who settled for second in 20.17.
Jason Livermore was third in 20.25 seconds.
Dwyer, who also won the Jamaican Invitational in May, said he was “more confident this year and it is paying off”.
Although he didn’t retain his national title, Weir said he had stuck to his race plan and achieved his aim of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 23-August 3.
“I just came out to make the team to the Commonwealth Games,” said Olympic 200m bronze medalist Weir. “It’s a long season and I have a lot of races to come.”
Anneisha McLaughlin, who was injured in the semi-finals of the World Championships last year, was delighted with her first national title in the women’s 200m, despite a modest time of 22.79sec.
Schillonie Calvert, who was third in the 100m on Friday, was second in 22.88 with Samantha Henry-Robinson third in 23.15.
Meanwhile, Curtis Mitchell held off a late charge from former three-time national champion Wallace Spearmon to win the men’s 200 metre crown at the US Track and Field Championships yesterday.
The 25-year-old Mitchell flashed across the finish line in 20.13 seconds to claim his first US national championship after winning the bronze last year.
Spearmon finished second in 20.19 while Maurice Mitchell was third with a time of 20.30.
Agencies
