Hansle Parchment Sets Jamaica Record at Prefontaine

Jamaica’s 2012 Olympic 110-meter hurdles bronze medalist Hansle Parchment ran a world-leading time and national record of 13.05secs (0.9m/s) to win the event at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon today.

Parchment, who turns 23 in two weeks, lowered his own personal best and the Jamaica record of 13.12, which he registered at the London Olympics behind Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson of the USA. In winning the race today, Parchment defeated Cuba’s rising star Orlando Ortega (13.08) and USA’s David Oliver (13.10). Andrew Riley, also of Jamaica, was fifth in a season best 13.20.

Prior to Parchment’s win, Jamaica struck gold when Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce streaked to victory in the women’s 100-meter clash with compatriot Veronica Campbell-Brown and company.

Frazer-Pryce, the two-time Olympic 100-meter champion, flew out of the blocks with the bullet start she’s known for to hold off the fast-closing Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria and Campbell-Brown. She stopped the clock at 10.71 seconds (2.2m/s), while Okagbare (10.75) separated Campbell-Brown (10.78) from her. Kerron Stewart, also of Jamaica, was fourth in 10.97.

Dubbed the Pocket Rocket because of her diminutive size and ability to bolt from the blocks, Fraser-Pryce said after the race that she was using the meet to tweak some areas of her race before she competes again at the Jamaica Trials later this month.

Rounding out the field were Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast (10.98), Ana Claudia Lemos Silva of Brazil (11.06), and the US pair of Allyson Felix (11.07) and Barbara Pierre (11.10).

A third victory came for Jamaica in the men’s 200meters. Nickel Ashmeade executed the curve well to hold off Walter Dix of the US and Jason Young of Jamaica and win in 20.14. Dix and Young posted 20.18 and 20.20 season best, respectively. Churandy Martina (20.36) of the Netherlands and Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway (20.51) also posted season bests.

James Loses to Merritt

In another match-up between USA’s LaShawn Merritt and Grenada’s Kirani James, Merritt turned the tables on James, who defeated him with a world-leading time of 44.02 in Shanghai. This time, James seemed to have made his move too late and was held off Merritt who won in a season best 44.32. James ran 44.39 ahead of the USA’s Tony McQuay (45.31), Luguelín Santos of the Dominican Republic 45.33, Belgium’s Kevin Borlee (45.56), Lalonde Gordon (45.67), Chris Brown (45.85), and Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic (46.05).

Amantle Montsho of Botswana continued her winning way with 50.01 over USA’s Francena McCocory (50.37), Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica (51.14), Christine Ohuruogo of Britain (51.31), Stephanie McPherson of Jamaica (51.35), Dee Dee Trotter of the US (51.73), Shericka Williams of Jamaica (52.22) and Sanya Richards-Ross of the US (53.77).

And Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer ran a strong last 50 meters to place third in the women’s 400-meter hurdles in 55.03. Winner of the event was the Czech Republic’s Zuzana Hejnova in a world-leading 53.70. Georgeann Moline of the USA was second in 54.75.

Spencer’s countrywoman, triple jumper Kimberly Williams, landed her best mark of the season so far with 14.78 meters behind Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia (14.93) and Olha Saladukha of the Ukraine (14.85). Williams’s jump was aided by a 2.7 m/s wind.