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Other Jamaicans also Excel
Sunday, September 03, 2006

Simpson, Foster-Hylton shine at World Cup

Sherone Simpson and Brigitte Foster-Hylton were Jamaica’s only individual winners at the 10th IAAF World Cup of Athletics, which ended in Athens, Greece on September 17, 2006.

Simpson, the first Jamaican to win the 100m at a World Cup, secured victory 10.97 seconds, her sixth sub-11 seconds clocking to beat Torri Edwards, the United States' replacement for Marion Jones who had decided she was not fit enough to run in Athens.

Foster-Hylton, who has been consistently among the top three finishers on the Grand Prix circuit, won the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.67 seconds.

The Commonwealth Games champion, Foster-Hylton, defeated European representative Susanna Kallur (12.77) and United States’ Virginia Powell (12.90).

Usain Bolt was second in the men's 200m in 19.96 behind American Wallace Spearmon who won in 19.87 while Novlene Williams finished third in the women’s 400m in 50.24, which was won by Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards in a area record, a sizzling 48.70 seconds.

However, Asafa Powell, who had lined-up for the men's sprint relay, did not get to stamp his class as the baton did not reach him on anchor leg.

Three other Jamaicans ended the two-day meet on the winning side. Aleen Bailey, Novlene Williams and Shericka Williams played important part on the sprint and mile relay teams respectively.

Bailey teamed up with Simpson, Bahamian Debbie Ferguson and Cayman Islands’ Cydonie Mothersill to carry the Americas team to victory in 42.26 seconds ahead of Russia (42.36). United States were disqualified.

Shericka ran the lead off leg and Novlene ran on the anchor, and along with World and Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling and Christina Amertil, both of the Bahamas, won the women's 4x400m in 3:19.84.

Jamaica’s 2002 Commonwealth Games champion, Michael Blackwood, was part of the Americas men's 4x400m team, which lost out, in a close finish to the United States. The Americans clocked 3:00.11 and the Americas 3:00.14 for second.

Europe won the male section with 140 points, finishing ahead of United States (136), Africa (116), Asia (110) and Americas (104) while Russia (137) took the fame section ahead of Europe (128) and Americas (117).