Alana Reid wins women's 200m national title in 22.29 personal best at JAAA championships

Alana Reid stormed to her first senior national 200m title on day four of the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships, stopping the clock at 22.29 in a wind-legal plus 1.0 metres per second race.

The 21-year-old, a world under-20 bronze medallist from 2022 who represents Nike, surged past defending champion Ashanti Moore of Sprintec Track Club and Lavania Williams in the closing metres after Williams had led through the bend from lane eight. Reid's time was a personal best and ranks her 16th on Jamaica's all-time list, ahead of Briana Williams, Ashanti Moore and Aleen Bailey, who had each recorded 22.31 or slower.

Lavania Williams finished second in 22.44, also a personal best, after running 23.06 in her semi-final the night before. Moore took third in 22.45, a season's best. Natoya Goule was fourth in 22.89, Jody-Ann Williams fifth in 22.95, and Crystal Sloley sixth in 23.15, another personal best.

Before the final, Lavania Williams had trimmed three tenths off her previous best of 23.09 in the semi-finals. Shashalee Moore, a former Hydel captain with a personal best of 22.31 and a season best of 22.53, had been among the pre-race favourites. Reid, in lane five, had a prior best of 22.89. Natalliah Whyte, with a personal best of 22.39 and a 22.79 this season, did not reach the 100m final. Veteran Natasha Morrison, 33, a five-time global 4x100m relay medallist with MVP Track Club, and Crystal Sloley, who had run 23.78 into the final, were also in the field.

Reid, working again with her high school coach Corey Bennett, delivered a decisive finish that commentators described as focused and fierce. The victory marked a major step for an athlete who had already shown strong form by reaching the 100m final at the same meet.