Cantwell and McCorory Win With World Leads in Kingston

Published by the IAAF on April 3, 2014

It’s not often that the 100m and 200m don’t produce the highlights of the Jamaica International Invitational, but on a night of stiff headwinds the only world-leading marks at the IAAF World Challenge meeting on Saturday (3) came from US shot putter Christian Cantwell and 400m runner Francena McCorory.

McCorory, the world indoor 400m champion, ran away from her rivals in the last 10 metres to cross the line in 50.24, the fastest she has ever run at this early stage of the season. She finished ahead of Jamaicans Stephenie McPherson and Novlene Williams-Mills, who clocked season’s bests of 50.58 and 50.90 respectively.

Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross, competing in her first race since prematurely ending her 2013 season due to lack of fitness, clocked 51.62 to finish a distant fifth.

Three-time world indoor champion Cantwell won a competitive shot put with 21.85m to finish ahead of Jamaica’s Odain Richards, who set a PB of 21.11m, and USA’s Kurt Roberts, who threw 21.07m.

“This meet is getting harder and harder,” said Cantwell. “We had three guys over 21 metres.”

Justin Gatlin and Blessing Okagbare fought strong headwinds to dominate the 100m, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce topped the women’s 200m in the far-from-impressive sprints.

The 100m men’s field – which was without the three fastest Jamaicans Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell – saw Gatlin win with a late burst to beat the field in 10.11, running into a -1.9m/s headwind.

University of Technology student Andrew Fisher, who surprised the field with a fast start, finished second in 10.21, one place and one hundredth ahead of world bronze medallist Nesta Carter of Jamaica.