Upset win for PR's Culson
Published: Sunday | May 3, 2009
Puerto Rico's 24-year-old Javier Culson clocked a world-leading and personal best 48.42
seconds to pull off a big upset in the men's 400 metres hurdles at the 2009 Jamaica International
Invitational meet at the National Stadium last night.Jamaica's Isa Phillips (48.79), 
American Michael Tinsley (48.81) and Danny McFarlane (48.85) all clocked season-best times in 
placing second, third and fourth, respectively. Big favourite for the race, America's Olympic silver 
medallist Kerron Clement, who holds the 47.79 meet record, finished a disappointing fifth in 49.10.
 
Stewart lands 100m
in world-leading time at JII Meet
BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, May 03, 2009

JAMAICAN Olympic 100-metre silver medallist Kerron Stewart and Javier Culson produced world-leading
 times in the 100m and 400 metres hurdles to highlight last night's sixth staging of the Jamaica International
 Invitational Meet at press time at the National Stadium. Competing in front of an estimated crowd of 8,000, 
Stewart exploded from the blocks and took control of the race at the 30-metre mark before crossing the line 
in a new meet record 10.92secs (wind +1.2 m/s).She had established the old mark of 10.96secs last year. 
American Marshevet Hooker finished five metres behind in 11.14, followed by Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser 
and Aleen Bailey, who both posted 11.15 for third and fourth, respectively. The men's equivalent went to American 
Darvis Patton in 10.02 (wind + 0.1 m/s), the same time as runner-up Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Barbuda.
National Junior record holder Yohan Blake was third in 10.07, while Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson of 
Trinidad & Tobago was fourth in the same time. Javier Culson produced a new Puerto Rico national record of 48.42secs
 to win the men's 400m hurdles after outsprinting Jamaica's Isa Phillips (48.79secs). American Michael Tinsley was third
 in 48.81, while 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Danny McFarlane was fourth in 48.85. The women's event went 2007 
Pan American silver medallist Nickiesha Wilson in 55.20s with Kaliese Spencer of MVP second in 55.89 ahead of Trinidad's
 Josanne Lucas, 56.16.Jon Rankin of the US won the men's 1500m in 3:46.86 ahead of Kenya's Frederck Musyoki (3:49.33) 
and Josephat Kithii (3:49.43).Earlier, Edwin Allen High retained their 4x100m title in 45.75secs from Holmwood (46.09)
 and The Queen's (46.27).Calabar took the boys' event in 40.66 ahead of St Jago (40.86) and Camperdown (41.15).

									

                                                    Espectacular el Grand Prix de Ponce en el 2008
                                                    

Williams and Phillips lead star_studded line-up in Ponce

Ponce, Puerto Rico - World Indoor 60m champion Angela Williams and 2004 Olympic Long Jump gold medallist Dwight Phillips lead the field of 14 World and Olympic medallists for the Ponce Grand Prix, to be held on Saturday (17) at the Paquito Montaner Stadium.

The Ponce Grand Prix is also one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 13-14 September in Stuttgart.

Following a successful Ibero American championships and the Carolina Classic in 2006, Ponce wants to keep the athletics fever alive with this annual event and the relay results will also count for the Olympic qualification.

Demus to double in 400m and Hurdles
 
Lashinda Demus is gradually regaining the form that saw her claim the silver medal at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. The 25-year old American already set a world leading mark of 53.99 secs in Fort de France.

She keeps good memories of her last race in Puerto Rico as she ran a world leading 54.00 in 2006.

Over the barriers, she will take on her countrywomen and former NCAA champions Shauna Smith (2005) and Markita James (2006), as well as 2007 winner Dominique Darden and Meka Thompson.

Men's sprints
 
St. Kitts and Nevis' 2003 World 100m champion Kim Collins and Antigua and Barbuda's 2007 Pan American Games 200m gold medallist Brendan Christian lead the line-up in the men's sprints.

Collins will race in Puerto Rico after a series of fine races in the Caribbean. At 32, his legs are still fresh as he claimed the 60m silver medal at the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

In the 200m, Christian will start as the top favourite following his personal best of 20.12, the second fastest time in the world this season, in Fort the France. In Ponce, the 24-year-old will meet USA's 19.88 runner J J Johnson, as well as Canada's 2006 World junior championships silver medallist Brian Barnett and Dominica's Chris Lloyd, who ran a national record of 20.31 earlier this month.

Top attractions in the Hurdles
 
Apart from Lashinda Demus' double, the men's 400m Hurdles promises to be a fast and close race, with Jamaica's 2004 Olympic runner-up Danny McFarlane and Panama's Olympic finalist Bayano Kamani leading the field.

Defending champion Javier Culson, who improved his Puerto Rican record with 48.87 secs earlier this month in Kingston, is one of the top bets for a home win in Ponce.

Jamaica's Ian Weakly, Belize's Jonathan Williams and USA' 2007 Pan American Games bronze medallist LaRon Bennett are also top contenders.