Navasky Anderson, Adrian Kerr Qualify as Jamaica Ramps Up World Championships Hunt

by Beryl Oyoo
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Jamaica’s World Championships campaign is gaining momentum after standout performances from Navasky Anderson and Adrian Kerr, who both secured their spots for Tokyo during an eventful athletics weekend in the United States.

Anderson, the national 800m record-holder, delivered a sensational performance at the Sound Running Sunset Tour at the Jack Kemp Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The former St Jago High standout clocked 1:44.40 to not only clinch victory but also lower his previous Jamaican record of 1:44.61 set in Newark on July 8. In doing so, Anderson dipped under the World Championships qualifying standard of 1:44.50, confirming his place at the global showpiece.

“It was a great race, man. I mean, when I came around at 400 metres, I felt pretty great. Six hundred metres, I was in the lead, I felt great. I was like, there’s no way I’m going to lose this race,” Anderson told the Jamaica Gleaner.

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Meanwhile, over in Memphis, Tennessee, several of Jamaica’s senior athletes were in action at the Ed Murphey Track Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet. Among them was sprinter Adrian Kerr, who posted a lifetime best of 20.09 seconds to finish second in the men’s 200m and punch his ticket to Tokyo.

Kerr, a former Kingston College athlete, had narrowly missed automatic qualification at last month’s National Senior Championships after finishing third. However, his new personal best performance on Saturday not only secured his place at the World Championships but also elevated him to the top of Jamaica’s 200m rankings, ahead of Bryan Levell, who had clocked 20.10 at the Trials.

Final Results Highlights from Ed Murphey Track Classic:

  • Men’s 200m: T’Mars McCallum (USA) – 19.74 (PB, WL), Adrian Kerr (JAM) – 20.09 (PB), Brandon Hicklin (USA) – 20.23
  • Men’s 100m: Davonte Howell (CAY) – 10.07, Bryan Levell (JAM) – 10.07, Ryiem Forde (JAM) – 10.09
  • Men’s 800m: Abdullahi Hassan (CAN) – 1:46.16, Tyrice Taylor (JAM) – 1:46.46
  • Men’s Long Jump: Carey McLeod (JAM) – 8.24m (+3.0), Marquis Dendy (USA) – 8.18m
  • Men’s Discus: Reggie Jagers III (USA) – 64.87m, Roje Stona (JAM) – 64.01m
  • Men’s 400m: Quincy Wilson (USA) – 44.10 (U18 World Best), Bryce Deadmon (USA) – 44.39, Delano Kennedy (JAM) – 45.00
  • Women’s 400m: Britton Wilson (USA) – 50.54, Leah Anderson (JAM) – 50.90

Other commendable Jamaican performances included Carey McLeod’s victory in the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.24m and a series of top-three finishes by national athletes, showing encouraging form as the global meet draws near.

With Anderson and Kerr officially securing their berths, Jamaica’s contingent for Tokyo continues to take shape, and with performances on the rise, expectations are building for a strong showing on the world stage.

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