KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Stadium witnessed exceptional athletic prowess during Friday’s semi-final events at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships. Emerging stars Shanoya Douglas of Holland High and Natrece East from Wolmer’s Girls’ solidified their positions as frontrunners for sprint doubles in their respective categories.
Shanoya Douglas, fresh from her spectacular 10.98-second victory in Wednesday’s Class 1 100m final, dominated her 200m semi-final heat with a commanding time of 24.00 seconds flat. The world U20 championship medalist now positions herself to potentially challenge the meet record of 22.53 seconds, established in 2022 by Hydel High’s Brianna Lyston.
In Class 2 competition, Natrece East delivered the second-quickest performance at 23.81 seconds, though she was surpassed by Edwin Allen’s 400m silver medalist Sashana Johnson, who clocked an impressive 23.51 seconds. Other notable qualifiers included Shannia Campbell of St Jago (24.21) and Shayon Smith of St Mary High (24.06).
The qualification rounds showcased depth across all classes. Class 3 saw Holmwood’s Rihanna Scott lead the field at 24.01 seconds, while Hydel’s Reneka Reid topped Class 4 qualifiers with 24.98 seconds. Notably absent was Excelsior’s Brianna Gray, the Class 4 100m champion, who unexpectedly did not start her semi-final race.
The championships continue to demonstrate Jamaica’s extraordinary pipeline of track talent, with athletes from Edwin Allen, Hydel, and other traditional powerhouses advancing to what promises to be an exhilarating finals session.