‘It’s been hard to stay away’ - Thompson-Herah happy to be running again; Douglas stars at Camperdown Classics

Olympic sprint legend Elaine Thompson-Herah expressed joy to be competing again, after returning to competition after a 19-month absence due to an Achilles injury.

Competing for Elite Performance in the women's 60m at the 21st Camperdown Classics at Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College (JC), on Saturday, she finished third in 7.24 seconds.

Lavanya Williams of Speed Dynamics won in 7.17, while Trinidad and Tobago's Shaniqua Bascombe of Uptimum Track Club was second in 7.23.

"First, I have to give God thanks, you know, to carry me through that race healthy. I'm grateful. I'm thankful. I'm satisfied, you know, many more races to come," Thompson-Herah said in a video interview posted on social media. "I missed it. So I'm just happy to be back here on track ... doing what I love.

"It's been hard to stay away from it, but you know because of my Achilles injury, I had to just take some time off," Thompson-Herah said. "So I'm just grateful to come out here, my team, my manager, my coach, everybody. I want to give them a big shout-out, a big thank you for being patient with me."

The first-ever female sprinter to win the sprint double at consecutive Olympics - winning the 100m and 200m gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and defending both titles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Thompson-Herah got a lot of support from the fans on hand, and expressed gratitude for the support. She also admitted looking forward to upcoming races.

"I'm just excited already to do some more races. Thank you for the support and love, you guys have been very patient. I've seen the love, positive one, And I must say, I'm just happy and grateful overall for the fans, you know, the true ones," she said.

STAR PERFORMER

Meanwhile, World Under-20 200 metres female bronze medallist Shanoya Douglas of Holland High School emerged the star performer, racing to an impressive double victory.

The former Muschett High standout, fresh off her indoor national junior record run in the 300m in New York last month, was dominant in both the 100m and 400m. Competing in her first year in Class One, she stamped her authority on the 100 metres, winning in 11.45 seconds ahead of Hydel High's Shemonique Hazle (11.72) and Penwood High's Shakeya Reid (11.99).

Her best, however, came in the Invitational women's 400m. Running a well-timed race, she reeled in early leader and national senior representative Jodean Williams of Sprint Tech to win in a personal best 52.60 seconds. Williams settled for second in 53.21, while Hydel's Natassia Fletcher was third in a season best 53.76.

World 200m bronze medallist Bryan Levell of Uptimum stormed to victory in the men's 60m in 6.56 seconds. Racers' Bouwahjgie Nkrumie was second in 6.62, the same time clocked by Roshawn Clarke of Swept Track Club for third overall.

Competing for the first time since his golden run at last summer's World Championships in Tokyo, Oblique Seville, representing Racers, finished third in his 400m heat and 10th overall in a personal best 46.98 seconds, improving on his previous best of 47.05 set at last year's meet. Former World champion Antonio Watson of Racers won overall in 45.11 seconds. Racers swept the top three spots, with Taj-Marques Whyte second in 45.59 and Raheem Hayles third in 45.63.

IMPRESSIVE FORM

Edwin Allen High's Kevongaye Fowler and Calabar High's Dujhauntai Lewis showed impressive form in the 800m, sending strong signals to rivals ahead of the ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

Competing in the third heat of the Girls' Class Two 800m, Fowler held off Alphansus Davis' Alikay Reynolds to win in 2:11.63. Reynolds clocked 2:13.41 for second, while teammate Tabbrel Williams won her heat in 2:14.38 for third overall.

Hydel secured two wins over the two-lap through Oshea Cummings in Class Three and Rihanna Morgan in Class One. Cummings, the Trinidad and Tobago middle-distance standout who has been unmatched this season, romped to victory in 2:16.45, ahead of Edwin Allen's Aneka Lowe (2:18.77) and Sydney Pagon's Kamoya Graham (2:18.81).

Morgan, formerly of Manchester High, proved too strong in Class One, winning in 2:12.36 ahead of Immaculate Conception's Davine Dickeson (2:12.94) and Alphansus Davis' Ameiah Samuels (2:13.14).

Calabar's Lewis, out of Great Britain, continued his fine season with a personal best 1:52.43 for a commanding victory in the boys' Class One 800m. JC's Samuel Creary (1:52.93) and Carlos Bison Cainez (1:53.48) were second and third, respectively.