Lloyd continues to shine

By Michael Bascombe

BIRMINGHAM, England, Feb 16, CMC – Dominica's Chris Lloyd was the best Caribbean athlete at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday as Tahesia Harrigan and Aleen Bailey disappointed.

Lloyd posted the second fastest time in the world so far as he finished second in the 400 metres behind the winner, Canada's Tyler Christopher in 46.02 seconds.

Grenada's two-time World Indoor champion Alleyne Francique (46.82) was no threat to the field as he continued to battle a flu virus and finished last in the field.

Christopher (45.80) and Lloyd efforts were national records at a meet which witnessed Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia establishing a new world record of 8:04.35 in the men's two-mile event.

In the women's 60 metres, Laverne Jones-Ferrette of the USVI was fourth (7.28 seconds) in a race which saw Tahesia Harrigan of the British Virgin Islands being disqualification following two false starts.

Harrigan was the third fastest qualifier with 7.24 seconds in the preliminaries where Jamaican Aleen Bailey with a seasonal best of 7.43 seconds, failed to reach the final.

Angela Williams of the United States was given the nod over Kim Gavaert of Belgium after both athletes were clocked at 7.15 seconds.

In other results, Grenada's national triple jump record holder, Randy Lewis was fourth with 16.27 metres as Britain's Phillips Idowu won the event with 17.21 metres.

Former World champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis, the only Caribbean finalist in the men's 60 metres, was seventh in 6.63 seconds, as Jaysuma Saidy Ndure swept to victory in a time of 6.56 seconds.

Ysanne Williams of Jamaica finished sixth in the women's 800 metres with a personal best of 2:05.98 minutes, way behind winner Jenny Meadows of Great Britain who clocked 2:00.74 minutes.

Hazel-Ann Regis of Grenada was fifth in the women's 200 metres in 24.97 seconds as all top three finishers recorded personal bests.

Joice Maduaka of Britain clocked 23.37 seconds to win the event while compatriot Christine Ohuruogu was timed at 23.41 seconds in finishing second. American Moushaumi Robinson was third in 23.49 seconds.

In other results with Grenadian athletes in North America, Patricia Sylvester opened her 2008 Indoor season with a win in the women’s long jump at the Tiger Invitational at Clemson University. Her winning distance was 6.23 metres.

At the All-Ohio Indoor Track and Field Meet at Malcolm Athletic Complex in Ohio, Kendell Simon was second in the men’s 800 metres in 1:56.18, while Neisha Bernard-Thomas was sixth in the 800 metres in 2:04.71 and Trish Bartholomew 10^th in the women’s 400 metres in 53.22 seconds at the Tyson Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Complex.

And Janelle Redhead was fourth in the women’s 400 metres in 58.71 seconds at the Toronto Senior Championships.