Spencer, the World Junior champion over 400m hurdles two years ago, clocked a personal-best 50.55 seconds to win the 400m event at the western United States meet. It is the fastest time this year by a Jamaican. The previous best by a Jamaican this year was 51.25, set by Sherone Simpson at the National Stadium on March 22.
Twenty-year old Spencer broke the Stadium record of 51.57 set 12 years ago by Nigerian Olympian Fatimat Yusuf. The Mannings High past student's time is also the second fastest in the world this year as on the following day, Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards posted a world-leading 50.47 to win at the Michael Johnson Classic.
Show great strides
Competing at the Michael Johnson Classic National 400 metres champion, Sanjay Ayre, finished fourth in his pet event in 45.69 as Olympic champion, Jeremy Wariner of the United States, won in a world best 44.56.
Former Holmwood Technical athlete Rosemarie Whyte continued to show great strides in the 400m. Now attending G.C.Foster College, Whyte posted a personal best 51.71 for victory at the Kansas Relays.
Whyte's teammate, Schillone Calvert (11.32), had to settle for second in the 100m as former Herbert Morrison athlete, Nickeisha Anderson, started her outdoor season with a win in 11.23.
Many-time senior long jump champion, Elva Goulbourne was also a winner at the meet. Goulbourne captured her pet event with a leap of 6.68 metres.
National representative Zara Northover (16.38m) finished second in the women's shot put while Andrea Bliss was third in the 100m hurdles in 13.07.
World Indoor 4x400m silver medallist Adrian Findlay continued to make strides in the 400m hurdles. He posted a personal-best 48.93 to finish second with former national representative Ian Weakley third in 49.48. Their trainer partner, Bershawn Jackson of the United States, posted a world-leading time of 48.32 to take gold.
Former Queen's High athlete, Samantha Henry of Louisiana State University (LSU), recorded 11.27 to win the 100m at the LSU Alumni Gold meet. Her teammate Nickeisha Anderson who scored back-to-back wins in two weeks over 100m hurdles, had to settle for second this time in 12.88. She was beaten by American Lolo Jones who won in 12.72.
Runner-up spots
Texas A&M's Simone Facey once again found teammate Porscha Lucas in her way as she had to settle for second in the 200m in 22.99. Lucas won in 22.69.
There were also runner-up spots for Davita Prendergast and Jovanee Jarrett.
Prendergast, a member of Jamaica's silver medal winning 4x400m team at last year's World Championships, did 52.17 for second. Clora Williams, the 2006 NCAA Outdoor 400m champion and sister of national 400m champion Novlene Williams was fifth in 52.86.
Jarrett, another former NCAA champion and who missed the entire season last year due to injury, got second in the long jump with a good leap of 6.66 metres.
Isa Phillips, who represented Jamaica at last year's World Championships, took second in the men's 400m hurdles in 50.42 while former Wolmer's Boy's standout Julian Reid continued his good progress at Texas A&M , finishing fourth in the long jump with 7.56m.
World Indoor senior representative Yhann Plummer had to settle for fourth place twice, with times of 10.34 over 100m and 21.08 for 200m.
Sanya Richards ... has fastest time (50.47) for 400m this year. file
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