Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
STEWART
JAMAICAN OLYMPIAN Kerron Stewart raced to a world leading
time on Sunday's final day of the SEC Outdoor Championships at the University
of Arkansas, John McDonald field.
Representing Auburn University, Stewart, formerly of St. Jago, raced to a lifetime best 11.03 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season.
Stewart, who left Trinidad & Tobago's 2005 Carifta Games sprint double champion Kelly Ann Baptiste of LSU (11.08) and Shalonda Solomon of South Carolina (11.09) for dead, also did a meet record.
The winning time bettered the regional 11.05 record set by Bahamian Olympic Games gold medallist Debbie Ferguson while representing Georgia in 1999.
Stewart said she was "overjoyed" with her performance, which bettered her previous personal best of 11.30 seconds.
"Well, I knew I was in great shape to run 11-teens, but not 11.03," Stewart told The Gleaner yesterday.
"When I saw the time I was surprised," said Stewart who now joins Sherone Simpson as the only members of Jamaica's 4x100m gold medal winning World Junior Championships team from 2002 to run under 11.20.
Stewart credited her impressive performance to hard work.
"This is the results you get and you can only give God thanks and hope better things are there to come."
Next on the agenda for Stewart are the regional and NCAA National Championships.
While not wanting to predict anything for the remainder of the season, Stewart said: "I am just going to let it happen. We all will see (the results)."
Her coach Henry Rolle says they're building for the next World Champs.
"Our goal is to make the World Championships team next year and the Olympic team in 2008. Our aim this year is to lay the platform," Rolle, a Bahamian, told The Gleaner.
In the women's 200m, Stewart was second in a personal best 22.85 behind American Junior Pan American 200m gold medalist and World Junior champion Shalonda Solomon of South Carolina (22.36).
Patricia Hall, formerly of Vere Technical was the other Jamaican winner. Hall, representing Tennessee won the women's 400m in an NCAA regional record (51.77) ahead of Natasha Hastings of South Carolina (52.18).
Jovanee Jarrett, also a former St. Jago student, finished second in the long jump (6.51m) and fourth in the triple (12.94m).
Former Jamaica junior Sekou Clarke, representing Florida University, finished second in the men's 400m in 45.82 behind Xavier Carter of LSU (45.26), while Isa Phillips of LSU and formerly of STATHS finished third in the men's 400m hurdles in 50.46.
At the Big 12 Championships, St. Jago past students dominated.
Clora Williams of Texas A&M ran an NCAA regional record, 51.95, to win the 400m ahead of Angela Perkins of Baylor (52.27).
Althea Chambers of Texas Tech secured the 800m title in 2:06.74 ahead of Ashley Patten of Missouri (2:07.00).
Melaine Walker of Texas won the women's 400m hurdles in 55.44 seconds, but despite a personal best, 12.86, lost to Priscilla Lopez of Nebraska (12.63) in the 100m hurdles.
Meanwhile, at the Georgia Tech Invitational, Anneisha McLaughlin, ran 23.50 for third in the 200m. Charlette Greggs of University of Miami (23.20) won the event.
