Yohan, Shelly stand tall on Trials day one

A mouth-watering showdown is expected in the semifinals and final of the men's 100m at the JAAA National Senior Championships as Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville recorded sub-10 times in the quarter-final round at the National Stadium yesterday.

Blake, the 2011 World champion, clocked 9.93 second to record the fastest time going into today's semi-final. In fact, Blake, who has a personal best time of 9.69 in the event, is now the second fastest Jamaican in the world over the distance this season.

Seville, 22, the fastest Jamaican in the world this year with a 9.86, cruised to 9.98 to win his heat. Seville blew out of the blocks before shutting down after 60m before easing across the finish line. Conroy Jones (10.00), Ackeem Blake (10.01), Oshane Bailey (10.03), Nigel Ellis (10.10), Michael Campbell (10.13), Tajay Gayle (10.13), Kadrian Goldson (10.16) and Mario Heslop (10.19) are the other main qualifiers to the semi-finals.

Also, three-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clocked 10.70 seconds to win her first round.

Fraser-Pryce, who is the fastest woman in the world this year, at 10.67 seconds, was quickly out of the blocks to win the event comfortably. Briana Williams was second in the event behind Fraser-Pryce, equalling her season's best time of 10.98.

Elaine Thompson Herah, the reigning Olympic sprint double champion, won her heat in 11.06. Kemba Nelson clocked 10.98 to win her heat ahead of Shericka Jackson (10.99). Natasha Morrison (11.10), Ramona Burchell (11.16), Shockoria Wallace (11.21), Kasheika Cameron (11.30), Shashalee Forbes (11.23), Kasheika Cameron (11.30), and Natalliah Wyhte (11.37) are the other main qualifiers for the semi-finals.

Shiann Salmon qualified for today's final of the women's 400m hurdles final with the fastest time.

She clocked 54.10 seconds to book her place in what is expected to be a tightly contested affair to determine the three places for the World Athletic Championships.

Andrenette Knight had the second fastest time going into the final with 54.55, ahead of World Championship bronze medallist Rushell Clayton advanced to the final with a time of 54.67. Janieve Russell is also through with a time of 55.04. The final is scheduled to start tomorrow night at eight.