PONCE, Puerto Rico, CMC – Nickel Ashmeade and Rondell Sorillo captured the two men’s sprint on Saturday at the Ponce Grand Prix.
Jamaican Ashmeade, the first man to break the 20-seconds barrier this season in the 200 metres at the Jamaica International Invitational last weekend, continued his notable form, breaking the meet record.
Ashmeade clocked 10.05 seconds to prevail over 2004 Olympic and 2005 World champion Justin Gatlin of the United States by one hundredths-of-a-second.
Keston Bledman, Trinidad & Tobago’s Olympic and World relay medallist, was a close third in 10.09, as the first three eclipsed the three-year-old meet record of 10.11, set by Antigua & Barbuda’s Brendan Christian.
Sorillo, the 2009 Central American & Caribbean 200 champion, was fourth in the 100, but he stepped-up to win the half lap with a time of 20.46.
Alonso Edward, the 2009 World Championships silver medallist from Panama, ran 20.60, and Bledman came third in 20.91.
Shareefa Lloyd and veteran, fellow Jamaican Danny MacFarlane also made onto the podium, with solid performances in their pet events.
Lloyd finished third with a time of 52.67 in the women’s 400, which was won by American Natasha Hastings (50.97).
MacFarlane was also third in a time of 49.77 in the men’s 400 hurdles, which hometown boy Javier Culson won with a time of 48.92.
