Dunkley on the comeback trail

Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

FORMER national senior representative, Julien Dunkley, is bent on regaining top form this year as he posted 10.22 seconds to win the 100 metres at the Liberty Twilight Invitational at the weekend.

At the same meet another former national and senior representative, Michelle Burgher, placed third in the 400m in 55.40. Also finishing third at the same meet was former GC Foster College representative Sherona Brown. Competing for St. Augustine College she did 2:13.08 for the 800m.

Former NCAA outdoor champion Clora Williams settled for the runner-up spot in the 400m in 52.01 at the Houston Invitational Meet in Texas. American Natasha Hastings took the event in a fast 50.82.

Captured gold

World indoor 4x400m silver medallist Yhann Plummer finished second in the 100m in 10.34, then returned later to take fourth in the 200m in 20.82.

Janika Martell of Lincoln University captured gold in the 100m at the Ward Haylett Invitational at the Kansas State University. She won in 11.46. Her teammates, Shawna Kaye Wright (11.86), Jodiann Powell (11.94) and Marcia Woolery (11.96) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Woolery (24.26) was second in the 200m as Monique Robinson (24.35) and Carla Thomas (24.54) ended third and fourth.

Robinson later returned to finish second in the 400m in 55.00 with her teammate Meisha Thompson, fourth in 56.25.

Wilbert Walker, also from Lincoln University took the long jump with a leap of 7.52m with his teammate Gerald Bascoe (10.48) and ((21.21) finishing second in both the 100 and 200m.

Former Manchester High athlete Stephanie Simpson, competing for South Plains Junior College, registered 11.77 for first place and 23.79 for second in the 100 and 200m respectively at the Don Kirby Invitational Meet in New Mexico. Former Queen's High athlete Crystal Wilson, also representing South Plains, was fourth in the 400m in 56.19, while former Vere Technical athlete Shantal Thompson, competing for New Mexico Junior College, was second in the triple jump with 12.35m.

After suffering a hamstring injury some three weeks ago, Natasha Ruddock was back on the track at the George Mason Invitational last Saturday. She had a bad day as after being disqualified in the 100m hurdles she finished at the back in the 400m hurdles in 1:17.65. Her Essex teammate, Melonie McKay, took third in the event in 62.20.

Meanwhile at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference indoor double champion Tanisha Wisdom had to settle for two runner-up spots. The former GC Foster College athlete who has shown tremendous improvement at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was second in the 200m in 23.53 and the 400m in 52.90.

Wisdom then ran a brilliant anchor leg in the 4x400m. Getting the baton some 20 metres in fourth position she made a gallant effort just failing by inches to peg back the Hampton University runner. She finished second in 3:40.55 as Hampton won in 3:40.50.