Jevon claims 'personal best'

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
BEIJING:

JEVON ATKINSON had what he described as a "phenomenal swim" in the heats of the men's 50 metres freestyle at the National Aquatics Centre yesterday, but he is still dreading a call from his sister.

Atkinson, the brother of Sydney Olympics 400m freestyle finalist Janelle Atkinson, did fairly well. He created some local history by becoming the first Jamaican to go under 23 seconds for the 50m freestyle. A personal best and national record was, however, not enough to put him in the last 16.

He finished fourth in the seventh of 13 heats in 22.83 seconds, getting well under his previous best of 23.07. His time was joint 45th of the 97 swimmers who entered the event. Atkinson's heat went to Chile's Oliver Elliot in 22.75. Amaury Leveaux of France posted the fastest time, an Olympic record 21.46.

Great time

"Things were going great until I got too excited and I let some air out," Atkinson said. "If I knew I was going that fast I would have corrected a couple of things, but I really thought I was going to win. It's a great time, but I would have enjoyed the win much more," he said.

Now he has to wait on that call from his sister.

"She is very hard on me and Mr Wignall, my brother-in-law, will also talk to me. I always like hard criticism and I could always get it from my sister and my brother-in-law," he said.

Janelle Atkinson is the best ever Jamaican female swimmer. She reached the final of the 400m freestyle in the Sydney Games of 2000 and placed fourth after looking to have a bronze in the bag 20 metres out.

Her husband is another Olympian, the many-time national 110m hurdles champion Maurice Wignall, who reached the final of the event in Athens four years ago. He is here to compete in his pet event.

Jevon, who will attempt to qualify for the London Games at the age of 28 in four years' time, leaves Beijing on August 19 for the United States.

"I am going to Texas to train with the Americans and try to find out their strategies and try to beat them," the Texas A&M student said.

National records

Natasha Moodie, Jamaica's third swimmer at the Games, will compete in the women's 50m freestyle today and will be looking to get a hat-trick of national records for Jamaica's swimmers in the pool.

Sports Minister 'Babsy' Grange and Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett were special guests of the Jamaican athletes at the Games Village yesterday. The sports minister, who went to the village just before midday, remained there for almost four hours, meeting and greeting the athletes and offering encouragement, especially ahead of what is expected to be a big weekend for the island's male and female sprinters.

Feedback: elton.tucker@gleanerjm.com

JAMAICANS IN ACTION TONIGHT

TRACK AND FIELD

Women

Shot put qual - Zara Northover - 8:10 p.m.

100m heats - Sherone Simpson, Shelly Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart - 9:50 p.m.

400m heats - Novlene Williams, Shericka Williams, Rosemarie Whyte - 11:10 p.m.

TOMORROW MORNING

TRACK AND FIELD

Men

Long jump qual. - Herbert McGregor - 7:00 a.m.

Note: Several Jamaican athletes, including Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt and Michael Frater in the 100m, should also have advanced from the opening and second round of their events. The three athletes for the women's 100m had also not been decided.

CYCLING

Keirin - Ricardo Lynch - 3:50 a.m.

All times Jamaican