分类： sports

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new era in Jamaican junior hurdling dawned at the National Stadium on Friday as Marquies Page spectacularly broke a longstanding record at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The emerging talent clocked an astonishing 12.98 seconds in the Boys’ Class 2 110m hurdles semi-finals, demolishing the previous record of 13.26 seconds set by Vashaun Vascianna back in 2019. Page’s performance sliced a remarkable 0.28 seconds off the seven-year benchmark. The record-breaking semi-final also saw Calabar High’s Divondrae Matthews secure his finals position with a time of 13.34 seconds, alongside Mark-Daniel Allen of Wolmers (13.39) and Jhabarie Whyte of Vere (13.65). In the Class 1 qualifiers, Calabar High’s Dijon Swaine emerged as the frontrunner with 13.35 seconds, followed closely by Kingston College’s Taj-Oneil Gordon (13.39), Hydel High’s Robert Miller (13.45), and Buff Bay High’s Davion Myers (13.47). The Class 3 100m hurdles competition witnessed equally impressive performances, with Jamaica College’s Adrian Phillips leading the pack at 12.96 seconds. William Knibb’s Jamali Laing followed with 13.19 seconds, while Kingston College’s Drequan Jones recorded 13.28 seconds. Calabar High’s Alex Lewis and Manchester High’s Dylan Bent both clocked identical times of 13.35 seconds, setting the stage for an intensely competitive finals session on Saturday.

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.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships reached a spectacular climax on its third day at the National Stadium, highlighted by a breathtaking record-breaking performance in the 400 meters. Kingston College’s Jason Pitter delivered an extraordinary run in the boys’ Class 2 final, obliterating the longstanding record with a phenomenal time of 45.76 seconds. This monumental achievement eclipsed the previous benchmark of 46.33 seconds, established by Christopher Taylor back in 2016. Pitter, who entered the race with a personal best of 46.35 seconds, dominated a highly competitive field from start to finish, securing a commanding victory. The silver medal was claimed by Jaeden Campbell of Excelsior High, who crossed the line in 46.74 seconds, while Calabar High’s Diwayne Sharpe captured bronze with a time of 46.82 seconds. The excitement continued in the Class 1 final, where Foga Road High’s Paul Henry staged a dramatic comeback in the final 60 meters, surging past three competitors to seize the gold in a new personal best of 46.21 seconds. Junior Gallimore from Hydel High secured second place with 46.33 seconds, and Makaelan Woods of Jamaica College, who had led for most of the race, finished third in 46.39 seconds. Jamaica College further demonstrated its sprinting prowess by claiming a one-two finish in the Class 3 final. Jayden White led the charge with a winning time of 50.10 seconds, followed closely by teammate Tariq Creary at 50.69 seconds. Darrian Francis of Lacovia High, a gold medalist at the Western Champs, rounded out the podium by taking bronze in 50.73 seconds.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a stunning display of athletic prowess and personal redemption, Sushana Johnson of Edwin Allen High clinched the gold medal in the Girls’ 200m steeplechase with a commanding time of 7:00.04. The victory marked a significant turnaround for Johnson, who had been defeated by Hydel High’s record-setting Taiefa Gowe in the previous year’s competition.

The race culminated in an exceptional one-two finish for Edwin Allen High, with teammate Briana Morris capturing the silver medal in 7:52.58. This dual achievement significantly bolstered the school’s position in the ongoing championship standings.

Completing the podium was Chevelle White from Alphansus Davis, who secured the bronze medal with a time of 7:54.7. Morris’s performance represented a remarkable improvement from her fifth-place finish in the previous year’s event, highlighting the intense training and development among these young athletes.

Johnson’s triumphant return to form demonstrated both mental resilience and physical preparation, showcasing the competitive spirit that defines Jamaican track and field athletics at the interscholastic level.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The stage is set for an electrifying climax in the boys’ Class 1 high jump competition at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. All eyes will be on Santino Distin from St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) as he aims to transform last year’s silver into gold during Saturday’s finale at the National Stadium.

Distin, who previously competed for Herbert Morrison Technical before transferring to STETHS, secured his place in the finals after successfully clearing the automatic qualifying height of 1.95 meters during Friday’s preliminary rounds. The national junior champion has demonstrated consistent form this season, having matched his personal best of 2.05 meters on two separate occasions, though he encountered a single setback during the qualifying phase.

The competition features several formidable contenders who delivered flawless performances during qualifications. Wolmer’s Boys’ School standout Kabiki Thomas, Cornwall College’s Carlyle Tinglin—who achieved a new personal best during the event—and Kingston College’s Michael Neil all progressed without a single failure.

In a surprising turn of events, Happy Grove High’s Jaquan Souden, who entered the competition as the top-ranked athlete with a season’s best of 2.06 meters, was forced to withdraw after just one attempt at 1.90 meters due to undisclosed circumstances. His unexpected exit has reshaped the competitive landscape for Saturday’s final, creating an open contest for the championship title.