Jamaicans score wins in Bermuda

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC):

Jamaicans Stacy Ann Williams, Shiann Salmon and Jaydon Hibbert covered themselves in glory as they won their respective events at the Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday, with Grenada's Kirani James being the top athlete from the English-speaking Caribbean to secure a top spot at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event at the Flora Duffy Stadium.

Williams, 25, an Olympic Games and World Championships mile relay medallist, stamped her authority on the field in the women's 400 metres, clocking 51.71 to beat Jessica Gbai of the Ivory Coast into second with a time of 53 flat, with Paola Moran of Mexico coming third in 53.21.

Emerging talent Salmon, 25, did well to finish the women's 400m hurdles in 56.59, beating Cassandra Tate of the United States of America (USA) into second with a 57.04, and Aminat Jamal of Bahrain was third in 57.94.

Hibbert led a Caribbean sweep of the podium with 17.33 metres as Jah-Nhai Perinchief of Bermuda was second with 17.13, and Jordan Scott of Jamaica third with 17.05.

Meanwhile, former Olympic and World Championships men's 400 metres champion, 31-year-old James, charged on the track, winning his pet event, in 46 seconds flat to lead an English-speaking Caribbean sweep. Alonzo Russell of the Bahamas finished second in 47.05, only 0.10 ticks ahead of Demish Gaye of Jamaica.

Trinidad and Tobago's sprinter Jereem Richards, 30, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, ran 20.39 to win the men's 200, with Matthew Boling of the USA coming second in 20.42, and Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike of Nigeria finishing third in 20.61.

Jamaican Chanice Porter led other English-speaking Caribbean podium finishes with a leap of 6.62 metres to finish second in the women's long jump. Monae Nicholls of the USA was 29 centimetres better to win, and fellow American Jasmine Moore leapt 6.60 to take third.

Jamaica's Alana Reid, Ashanti Moore and Yanique Thompson were third in the women's 100, 200 and 100 metres hurdles, respectively.