Wozniacki, Venus headline Auckland Classic

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AFP) — Former world number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams headline the Auckland Classic which starts tomorrow in the build-up to the Australian Open.

They are drawn to potentially clash in the final of the tournament, which features five top-30 players two weeks out from the first Grand Slam of the year.

“I think everybody coming into the year wants to start off well and I’m the same,” said Wozniacki, the tournament top seed who has slipped to number eight in the world since dominating the rankings three years ago.

“I just want to try to win as many matches as I can and get a good start to the year.”

Williams, who has not played since illness forced her out of the China Open three months ago, is back inside the world top 20 for the first time since 2010 and declared herself primed for Auckland where she was the beaten finalist last year.

But in the same side of the draw as the 34-year-old American is Italian Sara Errani, seven years her junior, four places higher in the world rankings and who beat her in the third round of the US Open last year.

Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (ranked 25) and two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number two Svetlana Kuznetsova (27) are also in the field.

Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, now down to 75, is also hoping to rekindle her career at the tournament she won in 2010 without dropping a set.

The mild New Zealand summer was an ideal lead-in to the heat of Melbourne for the Australian Open, she said.

“Coming from Europe and spending the winter at home, it’s quite nice to have it be not that hot yet.

“It gets us adapting faster to the weather than going from zero to 40 in one hop, so that’s quite nice.”

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Wozniacki, Venus headline Auckland Classic

Youngster Goldsmith Classic results

Girls 100 Metre Dash CLASS 4

Grant, Kiara Alpha 12.00

Richards, Jamani St. Jago High 12.35

Lyons, Tamika Hydel High School 12.48

Girls 100 Metre Dash CLASS 3

Frater, Sashell St. Jago High 12.23

Hopkins, Aaliyah Edwin Allen High 12.27

Marshall, Sidney Manchester High 12.29

Girls 100 Metre Dash CLASS 2

Burton, Rushelle St Andrew High 12.02

Hyde, Shian St Catherine High 12.07

Deer, Shanta Holmwood High 12.10

Girls 100 Metre Dash CLASS 1

Spencer, Monique Edwin Allen High 11.80

Cameron, Saqukine Edwin Allen High 11.87

Hanson, Areka Manchester High 12.0h

Girls 400 Metre Dash CLASS 3

Frater, Sashell St. Jago High 57.22

Walker, Sanique Vere Technical 58.42

Barnes, Moisha Edwin Allen High 58.80

Girls 400 Metre Dash CLASS 2

James, Tiffany Papine 54.47

Duggan, Taqece Hydel High School 55.66

Shaw, Jezelle Spaulding High 56.87

Girls 400 Metre Dash CLASS 1

McNEIL, Yanique Vere Technical 54.89

Witter, Tamika St. Andrew Techn 55.77

Haughton, Camira Edwin Allen High 55.86

Girls 1500 Metre CLASS 3

Dixon, Britney Vere Technical 4:41.26

Davis, Jeima Edwin Allen High 4:41.80

Coley, Emily Hydel High Schoo 4:57.71

Girls 1500 Metre CLASS 2

Whyte, Sasha-Gay Vere Technical 4:41.9h

St. Elizabeth Bromfield, Junelle 4:50.9h

Edwin Allen High Robb, Asshanni 4:58.8h

Girls 1500 Metre CLASS 1

McPherson, Monique St. Jago High 4:43.90

Barrett, Stephanie Rusea’s High 4:46.30

Robertson, Ackeliah St. Elizabeth 4:51.10

Girls 70 Metre Hurdles CLASS 4

Black, Ant0nette Edwin Allen High 11.03

Dawkins, Daniella Manchester High 11.15

Cooper, Rosealee St. Andrew High 11.17

Girls 80 Metre Hurdles CLASS 3

Holmwood High Allison, Shanette 11.80

Manchester High Marshall, Sidney 11.98

Wolmers Girls Bryan, Chris-Ann 12.04

Girls 100 Metre Hurdles CLASS 2

Burton, Rushelle St. Andrew High 13.89

Williams, Jeanine Immaculate Conce 14.27

Brown, Janeek Wolmers Girls 14.35

Girls 100 Metre Hurdles CLASS 1

Allen, Claudette Edwin Allen High 14.63

Lewis, Shanice Edwin Allen High 14.85

Coombs, Latavia Holmwood High 14.88

Girls 300 Metre Hurdles Under 17

Morgan, Ayeshia St. Jago High 45.60

Clarke, Tamara Vere Technical 46.50

Robinson, Leacean Holmwood High 48.00

Girls 400 Metre Hurdles Under 20

Williams, Ashley Holmwood High 1:00.30

Duncan, Britaney Hydel High Schoo 1:00.90

Kalawan, Shannon Edwin Allen High 1:01.00S

Girls 2000 Meter Steeplechase OPEN

Green, Monifa Hydel High Schoo 7:26.1h

Howill, Alvena Edwin Allen High 7:33.8h

Watson, Shanieke Holmwood High 7:36.3h

Girls 4×800 Meter Relay OPEN

Vere Technical 9:14.13

St. Jago High Girls 9:21.21

Holmwood High 9:37.80

Girls High Jump Class 4

Wolmers Girls Bailey, Shannon 1.58m

St. Jago High Thomas, Dana 1.55m

Edwin Allen High Burgher, Janique J1.55m

Girls High Jump Class 3

Rusea’s High Distin, Lamara 1.67m

Edwin Allen High Ingram, Shania 1.60m

Buff Bay High Jones, Rushellee J1.60m

Girls High Jump Class 2

Spencer, Samara Hydel High 1.70m

McKenzie, Shanae Manchester High J1.70m

Forrester, Annastacia Manchester High 1.65m

Girls High Jump Class 1 & Open

Bailey, Tasha-Gay G C Foster 1.80m

Ramsay, Israel Utech 1.75m

Hanson, Sashane Herbert Morrison 1.70m

Girls Long Jump Class 4

McFarlane, Denae Edwin Allen High 5.23m

Brown, Lotavia Edwin Allen High 5.12m

Dudley, Natasha Vere Technical 5.11m

Girls Long Jump Class 3

Cameron, Tanique Edwin Allen High 4.95m

Ashley, Annia Edwin Allen High 4.93m

Russell, Ashneak Manchester High 4.83m

Girls Triple Jump Open

Moncrieffe, Tamara Holmwood High 12.72m

Coombs, Latavia Holmwood High 12.50m

Swaby, Abigail Hydel High 11.81m

Girls Shot Put Class 2

Henry, Yanike St. Jago High 12.34m

O’Connor, Bristol Edwin Allen High 9.83m

Haughton, Basilla Rusea’s High 9.82m

Girls Shot Put Open

Fullerton, Janell Edwin Allen High 14.70m

Gayle, Paul-Ann Edwin Allen High 13.26m

Dixon, Dejonae Merl Grove High 12.69m

Girls Discus Class 1 & Open

Barnett, Tarasue G C Foster 50.34m

Harris, Venique Ardenne High 43.94m

Crosse, Tasha Edwin Allen High 42.38m

Girls Discus Class 2

Fullerton, Janell Edwin Allen 40.75m

Gayle, Paul-Ann Edwin Allen 39.57m

Johnson, Tasheka Clarendon College 39.26m

Girls Discus Class 3

Richards, Fiona Buff Bay High 39.46m

Pryce, Avery Vere Technical 37.97m

Stewart, Shakira St. Jago High 32.65m

Girls Javelin Throw OPEN

Binns, Isheka Manchester High 41.32m

Elliston, Taneika Holmwood High 37.72m

Leckford, Olivia Edwin Allen High 35.24m

Boys 100 Metre Dash Class 3

Wilson, Tyreke Calabar High 11.05

Hamilton, Yashawn Kingston College 11.26

Stevens, Michael Calabar High Sch 11.55

Boys 100 Metre Dash Class 2

Matherson, Jhevaughn Kingston College 10.64

Bloomfield, Akeem Kingston College 10.64

McLeavy, Javar Jamaica College 10.9h

Boys 100 Metre Dash Class 1

Minzie, Jevaughn Bog Walk High 10.49

Williams, Mario Kingston College 10.59

Allwood, D’Jean Monk Street Boys 10.67

Boys 400 Metre Dash Class 3

Taylor, Christopher Calabar High Sch 50.22

Wilson, Tyreke Calabar High Sch 52.10

Williams, Andy Monk Street Boys 53.16

Boys 400 Metre Dash Class 2

Carpenter, Anthony Calabar High Sch 49.63

Francis, Akyeeme Calabar High Sch 49.67

Ellignton, Devaughn Petersfield High 50.27

Boys 400 Metre Dash Class 1

Francis, Javon Calabar High Sch 45.95

Baker, Devaughn Jamaica College 47.70

Williams, Lennox Manchester High 47.71

Boys 1500 Metre Run CLASS 1

Rochester, Delano Kingston College 4:04.4h

Francis, Akeem Edwin Allen High 4:06.0h

Jahnson, Roshawn G C Foster Colle 4:06.4h

Boys 1500 Metre Run CLASS 3

Stewart, Detroy Edwin Allen High 4:24.81

Anderson, Navasky St. Jago High 4:30.70

Simpson, Kobe Manchester High 4:32.80

Boys 100 Metre Hurdles CLASS 3

Russell, Dejour Calabar High Sch 13.87

Roberts, Jordan Jamaica College 14.22

Salmon, Julian Ardenne High 14.24

Boys 110 Metre Hurdles CLASS 2

Simpson, Kamali Monk Street Boys 14.54

Smith, Orlando St. Elizabeth 14.78

Robinson, Alex Calabar High Sch 14.83

Boys 110 Metre Hurdles CLASS 1

O’Hara, Michael Calabar High Sch 14.06

Atkinson, Jovaine Kingston College 14.47

Williams, Marvin St. Elizabeth 14.48

Boys 400 Metre Hurdles UNDER 20

Williams, Marvin St. Elizabeth 52.70

Hyde, Jaheel Wolmers Boys 53.20

McNAUGHTON, Jamar St. Elizabeth 53.90

Boys 400 Metre Hurdles UNDER 17

Smith, Orlando St. Elizabeth 55.10

Morris, Alex St. Jago High 56.10

Jackson-Chin, Roje Monk Street Boys 56.60

Boys 2000 Meter Steeplechase OPEN

Chung, Webster G C Foster 6:17.6h

Haye, Larone Monk Street 6:20.5h

Guthrie, Romario St. Elizabeth 6:21.6h

Boys 4×800 Meter Relay OPEN

Kingston College 7:55.59

Petersfield High 8:05.96

Excelsior High School 8:07.32

Boys High Jump CLASS 2

Wilson, Lushane Monk Street Boys 2.00m

Darby, Kristoff Kingston College 1.90m

Martin, Oggary Ardenne High 1.85m

Boys High Jump CLASS 3

Clarke, Ricardo Calabar High 1.75m

Palmer, Vanderleer St. Jago 1.70m

Bancroft, Devonte Kingston College J1.70m

Boys High Jump CLASS 1& OPEN

Brown, Clayton Jamaica College 2.12m

Powell, Akeem Jamaica College 2.00m

Dixon, Denroc G C Foster J2.00m

Boys Triple Jump OPEN

Brown, Clayton Jamaica College 15.38m

Waysome, Obrien Jamaica College 15.16m

Ricketts, Michane Edwin Allen High 15.09m

Boys Shot Put CLASS 2

Nedrick, Kevin Petersfield High 15.41m

Richards, Balvin Jamaica College 13.99m

Mitchell, Kyle Wolmers Boys 13.86m

Boys Shot Put CLASS 1& OPEN

McDonald, Stefan Calabar High 16.08m

Longmore, Alec-Verne Jamaica College 15.77m

Lawrence, Sanjae Petersfield High 15.40m

Boys Discus Throw CLASS 1

Bingham, Basil Calabar High 57.88m

Gayle, Demar Edwin Allen High 54.44m

Watson, Glenford Petersfield High 53.80m

Boys Discus Throw CLASS 2

Nedrick, Kevin Petersfield High 48.36m

Chin, Andre Calabar High 42.46m

Mitchell, Kyle Wolmers Boys 40.99m

Boys Javelin Throw OPEN

Thomas, Orlando Kingston College 61.48m

Gordon, James Calabar High Sch 58.00m

Mitchell, Adrian Calabar High Sch 55.24m

Men Shot Put OPEN

Brown, Raymond G C Foster 19.33m

Dacres, Fedrick UTECH 18.99m

Harris, Oshane UTECH 14.83m

PHOTO SAVED AS Marvin Williams

World Youth 400m hurdles champion, Marvin Williams of St Elizabeth Technical clears another barrier on his way to an impressive 52.70 seconds in heat 3 of the 400m hurdles Under 20 event.

PHOTO SAVED AS Marvin MONIFA GREEN

Monifa Green of Hydel High distancing herself from the chasing romping home in 7:26.1 minutes to capture the 2000m Steeplechase Championship event and $20,000.

PHOTO SAVED AS JENIEVE RUSSELL

Utech’s Janieve Russell is full of concentration as she is above to go over another hurdle on her way to winning the Women 400m Hurdle Open in 1: 01.2o minutes at the Youngster Goldsmith Classic last Saturday. (PHOTOS: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

PHOTO SAVED AS MONIQUE MCPHERSON

St Jago’s Monique McPherson is all alone as she cruised to victory in her heat of the Class I 1500 m with the fastest time of 4:43.90 minutes.

PHOTO SAVED AS DEJOUR RUSSELL

The powerfully built Dejour Russell Calabar High’s powering away to van easy victory in the Class III 100m hurdles in the fastest time of 13.87 seconds.

PHOTO SAVED AS ROCHESTER

KC’s Delano Rochester easing home to victory in heat 2 of the Class I 1500m in 4:04.4 minutes.

PHOTO SAVED AS TIFFANY JAMES

The promising Tiffany James of Papine High sprinting away from the field to recording the fastest time in the Class II 400m in 54.47 seconds. Her time was even quicker than the fastest time in Class I which was 54.89 seconds done by Yanique McNeil of Vere Technical.

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Youngster Goldsmith Classic results

Scintillating Francis clocks 45.95sec at Youngster Goldsmith Classic

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, February 02, 2014    

World Championships relay silver medallist Javon Francis of Calabar High had the National Stadium buzzing following his magnificent 45.95-second run in winning Heat Seven of the Class One 400m at the Youngster Goldsmith Classic yesterday.

Francis’s time was said to be the fastest ever run at the meet, being the first sub-46-second, but could not be ratified by the organisers up to press time.

Francis showed that he could break Usain Bolt’s 400m Champs record of 45.35 done almost 11 years ago in 2003.

Francis, or ‘Donkey Man’ as he is called, went out like a bullet from lane three and at the 200m mark he was up on the shoulders of last year’s Class Two record holder Deshaun Baker of JC, before leaving him for dead coming into the straight for an effortless victory.

Baker was second quickest overall in 47.70 seconds, with Heat Six winner Lennox Williams third overall after cruising home in 47.71 seconds.

This was Francis’s first 400m for the year and in a couple of months, barring injuries, a sub-45 clocking is on the cards at Champs. He is expected to be pushed by World Youth 400m champion Martin Manley of St Jago, who has done 45.89, and Lennox Williams of Manchester High, who is expected to run sub-46 this year.

Calabar showed their strength in the 400 metres as Anthony Carpenter stopped the clock at 49.63 seconds to be the fastest in Class Two ahead of his teammate Akyeeme Francis in 49.67. They were the only two athletes under 50 seconds.

In Class Three, sprinter Tyreke Wilson showed that he has stamina, winning his 400m heat in 52.10 seconds, but was upstaged by his teammate and 400m specialist Christopher Taylor with 50.22.

World Youth 400m hurdles champion Marvin Williams of St Elizabeth Technical High School showed that he will be hard to beat with an impressive 52.70-second clocking in the boys’ 400m hurdles. He has a best of 50.39 seconds and is expected to lower that by time Champs comes around.

Wolmer’s Jaheel Hyde was second fastest with 53.20, with Jamar McNaughton of St Elizabeth third overall in 53.90 seconds.

Calabar’s Dejour Russell was awesome in recording the fastest time in the Class Three 100m hurdles, easing home in 13.87 seconds. Jamaica College’s Jordon Roberts was second quickest with 14.22.

World Youth 200m champion Michael O’Hara was quickest in his pet event, winning Heat Two of the Class One 110m hurdles in 14.06 seconds. Jovaine Atkinson of Kingston College was second overall in 14.47 seconds in Heat One, just ahead of Marvin Williams of STETHS with 14.48.

Meanwhile, Edwin Allen High were quickest in two of the girls’ sprint hurdles as Antonette Black did 11.03 seconds in the Class Four 70m hurdles, and Claudette Allen did likewise in Class One in the 100m hurdles with 14.63 ahead of her teammate Shanice Lewis, who won Heat One in 14.85 seconds.

Holmwood High won the Class Three 80m hurdles with Shanette Allison in 11.80 seconds, while her teammate Ashley Williams captured the 400m Under-20 in 1:00.30 minutes. St Jago’s Ayeshia Morgan won the Under-17 300m hurdles in 45.60 seconds.

The promising Rochelle Burton of St Andrew High won the Class Two 100m hurdles in an impressive 13.89 seconds.

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Scintillating Francis clocks 45.95sec at Youngster Goldsmith Classic