Deandre Watkin wins the men's 400m final in 44.48 seconds at JAAA National Championships. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
June 28, 2024
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Deandre Watkins ran a personal best 44.48 seconds to upset the field and win the men’s 400m on Friday’s second day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships at the National Stadium.
Watkins of Elite Performance who had a personal best 45.19 seconds set in Thursday’s first round, came off the final bend first and held off the fast-finishing Sean Bailey, last year’s champion and World Championships finalist who was second in a season’s best 44.65 seconds.
JeVaughn Powell was third in 44.79 seconds.
The men’s 400m was held over the first two days of the competition to accommodate another attempt to qualify for the men’s 4x400m relays at the Olympic Games, giving the athletes time to rest on Saturday.
The Jamaican team must run faster than 2:59.12 seconds to qualify for the Games.
-Paul A Reid