KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Undecorated Elaine Thompson stunned two former champions to claim the national 200 metres title while Nickel Ashmeade clinched the men’s equivalent, on the final day of the National Championships here Sunday.
Thomson carved out an early lead to enter the final stretch ahead, and pulled away to cross the line in 22.51 seconds, to seal her first national title on her 23rd birthday.
Sherone Simpson, the 2006 Commonwealth Games champion, was beaten into second in a time of 22.77 seconds while former World and Olympic champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, finished third in 23.04.
“I’m really happy for the win. This is a good birthday present, but I know I have some work to do,” Thompson said afterward. “I have to work on my corner, it was pretty slow so I have to work on that.”
Running out of lane five alongside Campbell-Brown in lane four, Thompson was off to a great start, producing speed on the turn to be just ahead of Campbell-Brown at the top of the stretch.
Olympic medallist Kerron Stewart in lane two looked like threatening while Simpson in lane six also shaped up well.
However, Thompson produced a final burst to easily pull away from the 33-year-old Campbell-Brown and even though Simpson found her stride, it was not enough to stop the eventual winner.
