KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships witnessed extraordinary displays of speed and athleticism during Thursday’s 400m events, with several athletes delivering career-best performances at the National Stadium.
In a spectacular upgrade from her previous achievement, Edwin Allen’s Kelly-Ann Carr captured the Class 1 gold medal with a remarkable personal best of 52.20 seconds, shaving more than a second off her previous record of 53.38 seconds set just one month earlier at the Central Championships. This blistering performance now ranks as the second-fastest time globally among under-20 female athletes.
The podium featured Hydel High’s Nastassia Fletcher, last year’s Class 2 champion, who secured silver with 52.48 seconds, while Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright claimed bronze with 52.81 seconds.
Foga Road High’s Shameika McLean achieved consecutive championship golds, adding the Class 2 title to her previous Class 3 victory from last year. McLean’s dominant performance clocked in at a lifetime best of 52.22 seconds, marking a historic moment as she delivered her school’s first-ever gold medal in the championships. She outperformed Hydel High’s Sashana Johnson (53.43 seconds), who collected silver for the second consecutive year, while Holmwood Technical’s Annastacia Hall completed the top three with 54.22 seconds.
An elated McLean expressed both satisfaction and ambition following her victory: ‘I did not know that I could run another 52 seconds race. I wanted to run a 51 seconds,’ she remarked, indicating her aspirations for even faster times.
The Class 3 event saw Hydel High’s Tyecia McDonald triumph with a time of 55.00 seconds, narrowly defeating Alpha Academy’s Sha-Jay Davis (55.34 seconds) and Holmwood’s Malya McClennon (55.36 seconds) in a closely contested finish.