Johan-Ramaldo Smythe delivered an extraordinary performance at the Purewater/RDanny Williams/JC Development Meet this weekend, announcing his arrival as a formidable track and field contender for the season. The young sprinter demolished the Class One 100m record with a blistering time of 10.47 seconds (+0.5 mps wind assistance), demonstrating exceptional early-season form.
Having recently transferred from Muschett High to Holland High alongside his father and coach Garth Smythe, the athlete’s debut for his new institution proved immediately impactful. The previous day, Smythe had dominated his Class One 200m heat with an impressive 21.10-second finish (-0.3mps), substantially outpacing Ian Barker of St Catherine High who recorded 21.54 seconds in his heat. Raheen Collins from St George’s College completed the top three performances with 21.99 seconds, making them the only three athletes to break the 22-second barrier.
This strong start represents a significant redemption arc for Smythe, who failed to qualify for last year’s Class One final at the prestigious Champs championships after placing third in his semi-final with 21.27 seconds. His current performance trajectory suggests substantial improvement and positions him as a serious threat for the upcoming April championships.
The record-breaking 100m time marks considerable progress from his sixth-place finish at last year’s Champs final where he clocked 10.57 seconds. Smythe’s transfer brings unprecedented athletic prowess to Holland High, an institution not traditionally recognized for track and field achievements. Alongside World Under-20 200m bronze medalist Shanoya Douglas, who also transitioned from Muschett High, Smythe is poised to secure the school’s first-ever points qualification at the championship level.