There was drama in the preliminaries of the men’s 100 meters on yesterday’s opening day of the National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium yesterday .

This after the 2011 world champion Yohan Blake was disqualified in his heat following a false start .  

Blake, who only this week signed a deal with sports goods manufacturer Puma, disputed the call and held up the race in protest that lasted more than five minutes before he eventually conceded. 

He was later given a second chance to run by himself, with 10.21 seconds as the given time to equal or better, but he missed the mark after running 10.31, and therefore misses today’s semi-final and final.

Rasheed Foster was the first to be disqualified in the heat which was won by Kadrian Goldson of Gc Foster College in a personal best 9.94 seconds ahead of Rohan Watson who took the runner up spot in a personal best 9.98.

On a night when three new Jamaicans joined the sub ten club for the first time, Kishane Thompson of  MVP, posted a huge personal best of best 9.91 to take heat 1 with Akeem Blake second in 10.00 seconds.

Oblique Seville also ran 10 seconds flat to win heat 2 while Nigel ellis recovered from a poor start to win heat 4 in 10.07 seconds – Michael Campbell 10.10 and Bouwaghie Nkrumie 10.21 were second and third respectively.

Meanwhile defending national champion Shericka Jackson was the fastest qualifier heading into the semi-finals of the women’s 100 metre event.

Jackson  posted a time of 10.99 seconds to finish ahead of Joniele smith and Briana Williams who were both timed at 11.19 seconds in heat one.

Also advancing was double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah who ran a season-best 11.12 seconds to win the 4th and final heat.

Heat 2 meanwhile was won by national junior record holder Alana Reid in 11.14 seconds ahead of Remona Burchell 11.14 and Kiara Grant 11.31 – tia Clayton was 4th in 11.40 seconds.

Natasha Morrison won heat three  in 11 seconds flat followed by Shashalee Forbes 11.09 and Kevona Davis 11.12 while Serena Cole was fourth in 11.19 .

Meanwhile, high jumper Lamara Distin defended her national title as she edged a competitive Kimberly Williamson in a two-competitor field.

Distin achieved a championship-best jump of 1.91 metres, while Williamson managed 1.88 meters.

Tissanna Hickling produced a personal best jump of 6.85 meters to win the women’s long jump title. 

Chanice Porter was second with a leap of 6.72 metres while Ackelia Smith leapt 6.66 meters for third. 

Also scheduled to take place today are the women’s 100 metre semifinals at 4:55 with the final at 8:45pm.

The semifinals of the men’s 100 metres is set for 5:10pm with the final at 8:53 pm.