The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Good wins for Ja women in Rome

AP - Jamaica's Melaine Walker wins the women's 400 metres hurdles at the Golden Gala meeting in Rome's Olympic Stadium yesterday. Walker clocked 54.36 seconds.

by Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

NATIONAL champions Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Kerron Stewart and Melaine Walker scored good wins at the Rome Golden Gala meet yesterday.

It was a Jamaica one-two in the 100m hurdles as Foster-Hylton and Ennis-London hit the finish line together with the former getting the nod in 12.60 seconds. Ennis-London was second in 12.62.

National 100 metres champion, Kerron Stewart, won the women's 200m in 22.34 ahead of American Sanya Richards, 22.49 and Frenchwoman Muriel Hurtis, 22.50. Sherone Simpson placed sixth in 22.88.

Walker got her sternest test so far this season in the women's 400 metres hurdles and came out with high marks as she defeated a strong field to win in 54.37. With the likes of Australian World Champion Jana Rawlinson set to miss the Beijing Olympics, Walker is emerging as a gold medal contender in the event. She defeated some of her likely Beijing rivals, including World Championships bronze medallist Anna Jessien of Poland who was second yesterday in 54.71, America Olympic trials winner Tiffany Ross-Williams getting third in 54.91. Jamaican Shevon Stoddart was fourth in 54.92.

late challenge

Jamaica picked up silver and bronze in the women's 400m. Novlene Williams-Mills held off the late challenge of Sherika Williams to finish second in 50.79. Shericka clocked 50.83 for third. World leader Allison Felix of the United States won in 50.25.

Jamaicans Danny McFarlane and Nesta Carter finished third in their events. National 400 metres hurdles champion McFarlane led a very strong field for most of the race. He was only overtaken over the final flight of hurdles. He held on to finish third in 48.57 as world leader Kerron Clement of the United States ended teammate's Bershawn Jackson's jackpot hopes by defeating him in a close finish. Clement won in 48.23 with Jackson second in 48.34. The other Jamaicans in this event, Isa Phillips (49.31), Markino Buckley (49.51) and Adrian Findlay (49.82) were fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Carter was the best finisher in the 100m where Asafa Powell withdrew from the final after hurting his groin. Carter was third in a blanket finish in 10.05 as winner Francis Obikwelu of Portugal and second place Derrick Atkins of The Bahamas were credited with the same time, 10.04. Michael Frater was fifth in 10.12.

Ricardo Chambers became the first Jamaican to go under 45 seconds this season when he won the men's B 400m 44.96. Sanjay Ayre was third in 45.77. In the A race, Jeremy Wariner beat fellow American LaShawn Merritt in a very close finish. Wariner clocked 44.36 with Merrit second in 44.37. Bahamian Chris Brown was third in 44.73.