JAMAICA NATIONAL SENIOR TRIALS 2022
It is that time of the year again and the National Senior Trials will take place this weekend. Of course there will be surprises, but based on the performances we have seen so far, we will try to review some of the events we think are of interest to most Jamaican track fans.
FEMALE EVENTS
The ladies events will certainly take center stage, with a number of world class ladies contesting the sprints and hurdles. Big names like Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Elaine Thompson and Sherika Jackson will highlight the sprints, while Britany Anderson, Danielle Williams and Megan Tapper will contest the sprint hurdles.
100 Metres
In recent years this race has become the most exciting race at the national trials. This year will be no exception and the fight for top four and top six places will be fierce. Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce is the world championship defending champion and might not contest this event. Assuming she runs, she should be favored to win over Sherika Jackson and Elaine Thompson. The fight for that critical fourth spot will be closely contested by Brianna Williams, Kemba Nelson, Natalliah Whyte, Ramona Burchell and Natasha Morrison. Shokoria Wallace could complete the field if Pryce does not run.
- Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce
- Shericka Jackson
- Elaine Thompson
- Kemba Nelson
- Brianna Williams
- Natalliah Whyte
- Ramona Burchell
- Kevona Davis
- Shokoria Wallace
200 Metres
Again the top three ladies Shelly-Ann Fraser -Pryce, Sherika Jackson and Elaine Thompson will dominate the race. It will be interesting to see how Thompson matches up against Shelly and Sherika and if Kevona Davis can compete well against the top three sprinters.
- Sherika Jackson
- Shelly-Anne Fraser Pryce
- Elaine Thompson
- Kevona Davis
- Sashalee Forbes
- Natalliah Whyte
- Yanique Dale
400 Metres
Three of the four fastest times have been run by Charokee Young, Stacy-Ann Williams and Kavia Francis who are all college athletes, but history tells us that college athletes rarely approach their best times at trials. At the NCAA’s it was quite obvious that Young and Williams had lost form. Hopefully they will be ready for trials.
- Stephanie Ann McPherson
- Candice McLeod
- Charokee Young
- Stacy Ann Williams
- Junelle Bromfield
- Kavia Francis
- Tiffany James
- Roneisha McGregor
100M Hurdles
Again the top times have been run by college athletes but injuries and loss of form could play a part here. Ackera Nugent has the second fastest time but could miss this race due to injury. The top athlete in the race is Britany Anderson, but she will have to ensure she successfully navigates the hurdles. Last year’s Olympic bronze medalist and defending champion Megan Tapper will be in a firefight to get a top three spot.
- Britany Anderson
- Danielle Williams
- Megan Tapper
- Demisha Roswell
- Amoi Brown
- Shimayra Williams
- Crystal Morrison
- Trishauna Hemmings
400M Hurdles
Former Vere Tech and St. Jago athlete Andrenette Knight has made a successful comeback to her pet event. But the battle for the top three spots will be fierce. Janieve Russell, Rochelle Clayton, Rhonda White and Shian Salmon have all made Jamaican teams and the contest for the three available spots could spring surprises.
- Janieve Russell
- Andrenette Knight
- Rochelle Clayton
- Shian Salmon
- Rhonda White
- Garriel White
The Other Events
800M women
Perennial world championship and Olympic finalist Natoya Goule should easily win the event at trials, but we would love to see Chrisann Gordon go below 2 minutes.
High Jump Women
Will Lamara Distin break the national record again?
Women’s Triple Jump
Can Shanieka Ricketts get back to her 2019 form when she jumped 14.92 and won the silver medal at the world championships?
written by Oliver Harris
