Akeem Blake runs 10.05 to win men's 100m semi-final at JAAA national championships

Akeem Blake powered to victory in semi-final two of the men's 20-and-over 100 metres on day two of the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships, stopping the clock at 10.05 seconds to secure an automatic place in the evening final.

Blake, representing Dynamic Speed Track Club from lane three, moved in front early after a clean break from the blocks and was not caught. The world indoor bronze medallist over 60 metres, who has gone under 10 seconds this season and served as lead-off man on Jamaica's mixed 4x100m relay team at this year's World Relays, had already signalled his form with 10.11 in qualifying.

Kishane Ebanks of MVP Track Club finished second in 10.18, lowering his personal best after another sharp start. Javoy Thomas of GC Foster College claimed third in 10.27 to complete the trio advancing on place. Thomas, whose lifetime best stands at 10.17, had reached the semi in 10.28.

Rasheed Foster of Elite Performance placed fourth in 10.32, with former Excelsior High standout Demish Miller fifth in 10.39. Also in the field were Michael Campbell of MVP Track Club, a 2017 World Championships representative who has continued rebuilding after a serious car accident; Demish Williams of UTech in lane seven; and Kemar Bailey-Stewart of Texas Tech University in lane eight. Foster, a back-to-back intercollegiate champion who ran well at the Penn Relays and represented Jamaica at the World Relays, knew only a top-three finish would guarantee passage.

Three runners from each semi advance by position, with the next-fastest remaining times also earning final berths. That route allowed Bouwajie, who ran 10.14, and Kadrian Goldson at 10.12 to reach the final despite not finishing among the top three in the opening semi, where Gary Card posted 10.07 to finish 0.006 seconds behind Rowan Watson. Tyquendo Tracey clocked 10.25 and Travis Williams 10.26 — both faster than Thomas — but will miss the final under the qualifying rules.

Blake, part of Jamaica's world-record mixed relay quartet alongside Tia and Tina Clayton and Goldson, goes into the final as the clear favourite. Ebanks, who trains daily with Kishane Thompson, will again look to convert his fast start into a medal challenge.