Seville, Pryce end on Ultimate podium
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Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States (left) beats Oblique Seville, of Jamaica to win the men’s 100-metre final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary yesterday.
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From left: Salwa Eid Naser, of Bahrain, Nickisha Pryce, of Jamaica, and Marileidy Paulino, of the Dominican Republic, react during the women’s 400-metre semi-final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday.
Jamaica’s athletes produced several strong performances on the second day of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, highlighted by Oblique Seville’s second-place finish in the men’s 100 metres and Nickisha Pryce’s third-place effort in the women’s 400m.
Seville, the reigning world and Diamond League champion, continued his impressive season by securing the runner-up spot in a highly competitive men’s 100m final.
The Jamaican, who entered the championships as one of the leading contenders after winning the Diamond League title in Brussels last weekend, was upstaged by American Kenneth Bednarek, who won in a season’s best 9.85 seconds. Seville clocked 9.90 for second, while American Ronnie Baker was third in 9.93.
Seville got a perfect start and led for about 70 metres before Bednarek showed excellent top-end speed to overhaul the Jamaican and secure victory.
Seville said he “wanted to run faster but Kenny got the best out of this race” and congratulated the champion.
“It has been a long season and I am tired at this point,” he added. “I will take time off now and I know what I’ve got to improve for next year. I want to keep the world champion title next year.”
Earlier in the semifinals, the other Jamaican in the event, Ackeem Blake, failed to advance after finishing eighth in his heat in 10.21 seconds.
In the first track final of the day, Pryce, the national record holder, produced another fine performance. Running from lane nine in the women’s 400m, she finished third in 49.56 seconds behind winner Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who clocked 49.07. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger took second in 49.28.
In the women’s 100m, arguably the most eagerly anticipated race of the championships, Jonielle Smith was Jamaica’s best performer, finishing fourth in 10.94 seconds, while newly crowned Diamond League champion Tina Clayton was fifth in the same time. Lavanya Williams finished seventh in 11.07.
The Jamaican trio faced a quality field led by Olympic champion Julien Alfred, world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and American star Sha’Carri Richardson. Jefferson-Wooden stole the spotlight, winning in a season’s best and world-leading 10.62 seconds. Alfred was second in 10.74, while Richardson took third in a season’s best 10.76.
Earlier, Jodean Williams finished fifth in her semifinal heat in 11.16, while Brianna Lyston was sixth in hers in 11.18. Neither advanced.
Tajay Gayle, the Diamond League long jump champion, failed to build on his impressive form from Brussels a week ago, finishing fifth in the men’s long jump with a best mark of 7.90 metres. World leader Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece won with 8.35m, narrowly holding off Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov (8.34m) and Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer (8.07m).
Rushell Clayton and Sanique Walker advanced to today’s final.
Clayton, one of Jamaica’s most experienced hurdlers, secured her place in the women’s 400m hurdles final after finishing fourth in her semifinal in 53.84 seconds.
Walker, the Commonwealth Games champion, produced a personal best 53.77 seconds to finish third in her semifinal. The other Jamaican in the event, Shiann Salmon, failed to advance after placing eighth in her heat in 56.35.
Commonwealth Games 800m champion Navasky Anderson also failed to advance to today’s men’s 800m final after finishing fifth in his semifinal in 1:44.83.