The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association JAAA National Senior and Junior Athletics Championship is already off to an exciting start , with some solid performances by the big stars on the track and in the field on yesterday’s opening day.

However it was not without drama, as Jamaica’s  prospective  Olympic  team  took  another  big  hit  yesterday after  another  major  athlete was forced to  withdraw  because  of  injury, while 2011 World Champions Yohan Blake’s bid for another Olympic appearance  was severely dented. 

World  Champion Antonio  Watson  broke  down  in the  men’s  400  metres  semi-final  last  night  and  will  join  five-time  Olympic  Champion  Elaine  Thompson-Herah  on  the  sidelines  for  the  Olympics.

Watson  who failed  to  take  the  track  at  the  Racers  Grand  Prix  recently  also  because  of  injury, stopped running last night near the 200 meters start , and was assisted by medical personnel immediately. 

The status of his situation remains unclear. 

Meanwhile , the decorated Shelly  Ann  Fraser  Pryce  and  Shericka  Jackson  clocked  the  fastest  times  in  the first round of the women’s  100  metres.

Fraser-Pryce  the three  times  Olympic  gold  medallist  topped  the  field  with  a  season  best  10.98  seconds  after  five  time  Olympic  medallist   Jackson  posted  10.99  seconds  in  heat  one.

They  were  followed  by  Jodean Williams 11.01, Tia Clayton 11.02 , Shashalee  Forbes  11.03, and Natasha  Morrison  and  Krystal  Sloley who both clocked 11.12  seconds.

Meanwhile  Kishane  Thompson  burnt  the  track  in  the  men’s  100  metres  with  a  personal  best  9.82  seconds

He  is  followed  by  Akeem  Blake  9.95, Oblique  Seville  9.98, and Sandrey Davison  10.00 seconds.

Olympic relay champion Yohan Blake failed to make progress after he finished fifth in heat one in 10.21 seconds. 

The  first national  champion  was  crowned yesterday  when  Ackelia  Smith  captured  the   senior  women’s  long  jump  title  with  a  best  effort  of  6.53  metres.

While in another senior final national champion Lamara Distin retained her title when she won the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.89 metres. 

The meet resumes this morning at 9:30 with the 110 hurdles event in the Men’s Decathlon event.