Vere’s Jackson sparkles at Carifta Trials
REIGNING Carifta Games Under-17 200 and 400 metres champion Shericka Jackson of Vere Technical notched wins in both events to highlight the second and final day of Jamaica’s Carifta Trials at the National Stadium in Kingston yesterday.
Jackson, who established the Carifta 400m record of 53.48 seconds last year in St Lucia, displayed good form while completing the double. She first clocked 23.94secs to win the 200m before returning an hour later to win the 400m in 54.78secs.
However, while Jackson was impressive yesterday, it was Holmwood Technical’s Gleneive Grange who secured the most wins over the two days of trials with wins in three separate events.
Grange produced 10.50 metres to win the U-17 shot put yesterday, adding to her victories in the discus (36.38m) and Javlin (33.21) on Saturday.
Four other athletes — Candecia Bernard, Marleena Eubanks, Oshane Turner, and Rochelle Farquharson — completed double wins over the two days.
Bernard of St Hugh’s threw 12.26m yesterday to win the U-20 shot put adding to her new National Junior discus record of 48.71 metres on Saturday.
Oshane Turner of Petersfield returned 4:11.69 to win the U-17 1,500m adding to his 800m (1:58.04) victory on Saturday; Farquharson of St Elizabeth Technical leapt 13.01m and 6.15m to win the triple and long jump events yesterday; while Eubanks of Edwin Allen posted 4:42.13 to win the U-17 Girls 1,500, adding to her 800 win.
There were other notable performances by Julian Forte of Wolmer’s, who won the U-20 Boys 200m in personal best 21.14secs, Vere Technical’s Jermaine Gayle who did 47.07 to win the U-20 Boys 400m and Donahue Williams of Kingston College, who returned 4:02.07 to win the U-20 1500m. It was Williams’ first 1,500m race since the 2007 Carifta Games in Turks and Caiços Islands, where he returned 4:00.73 to take silver behind Kemoy compatriot Kemoy Campbell.
In the meantime, the Neville ‘Teddy’ McCook-chaired Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association’s selection committee is expected to meet this week about the make-up of Jamaica’s 70-member team.
The 39th staging of the Carifta Games is scheduled for the Cayman Islands between April 2 and 5.
Jamaica secured their 25th straight hold on the Carifta title in St Lucia last year by amassing 67 medals to top the standings — 39 gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze.