Edwin Allen remain in cruise control
DEFENDING champion Edwin Allen remain on top of the points standings in the girls section of the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships after three days with a 21-point lead after five finals.
Edwin Allen, who started the third day on 30 points from three finals, moved to 50 points after five finals, while St Jago High made the most progress moving from nine to 32 points ahead of Holmwood Technical with 29 points.
Vere Technical on 11 points are fourth ahead of The Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha) with nine points, Manchester High on eight, Wolmer’s Girls’ a point adrift on seven, Holy Childwood on six, St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) with five and the Hydel Group of Schools with four points, rounding out the top 10 teams.
St Jago High’s Kimone Shaw won the Class Four Long Jump final with a record-equalling leap of 5.52m, the same done by Opal James of STETHS in 2008.
Sanique Walker of Vere Technical was second with a respectable 5.23m, with Holy Childwood’s Anthonette White third with 5.11m.
In the first final of the day, Gabrielle Foster of the Convent of Mercy Academy Alpha leapt 1.68m to capture the Class Three High Jump ahead of Toni-Ann Farquharson of Wolmer’s High with 1.65m. Holmwood High’s Colestia Baker was third with 1.65m, the same as fourth-placed Tissanna Hickling of St Jago High.
In the third girl’s final of the day, the Class Two Long Jump was still in progress up to press time.
Earlier, in the Girls Class Three 1,500m preliminaries, Vere Technical’s Britnie Dixon had the fastest qualifying time of 4:52.65 minutes ahead of Monifa Green of Hydel Group with 4:53.32 and Asshanni Robb of Edwin Allen High in 4:53.38. Chrissani May of Holmwood Technical was fourth quickest in 4:54.51.
In Class Two, St Elizabeth Technical looked strong with Chantai Smith and Aleitha McLaughlin posting 4:49.56 and 4:48.37 minutes, respectively, but it was Holmwood Technical’s Lisa Buchanan who had the fastest time of 4:48.33.
In the 400 metres, Okalia Buchanan of Wolmer’s High threw down the gauntlet in Class Three with a time of 55.41 seconds in Heat Four to enter the semis with the fastest time. In fact, her qualifying time was even faster than the Class Two girls. Taqece Duggan of Hydel Group was second in 55.43 seconds.
In Class Two, St Andrew Technical’s Cameka Witter enters the semis with the fastest time of 55.43 seconds ahead of
Shenice Cohen of Holmwood Technical (55.51), while Tiffany James of Papine High stopped the clock at 55.85 seconds.
In the 100m sprints, an impressive-looking Shaneil English of Hydel Group eased into the semis with a leading 12.32 seconds in Class Four and can make an attempt at the 11.90 record held by Dianna Johnson of Holmwood Technical since 2009.
The St Jago pair of Kimone Shaw and Sashell Frater also looked good in 12.34 and 12.61 seconds, respectively. Katherine Barnes of St Elizabeth Technical was third quickest in 12.51 seconds. Edwin Allen’s Shavell Riley (12.64) and Rackiel Gayle (12.84) are through to the semi-finals as well.
An awesome-looking Shauna Helps of Wolmer’s cruised to 12.45 seconds in winning heat one of the Class Two 100m. Yanique Thompson and Dianna Johnson of Holmwood enter the semis with the two fastest times in 11.87 and 11.99 seconds, respectively. But Helps, the CARIFTA Under-17 champion, could have most to fear from an equally impressive-looking Shimayra Williams of Clarendon College, who looked effortless in stopping the clock at 12.21 seconds in heat four. Wolmer’s’ Jonielle Smith is also in the reckoning with 12.02 seconds.
In Class One, the Holmwood pair of Chanice Bonner (11.91) and Kedisha Dallas (12.00) carried the fight for the former champions with two of the quicker times, but it was St Jago’s Melissa Williams with 11.84 seconds through to the next round with the fastest time. Edwin Allen’s Monique Spencer also looked comfortably winning heat one in 12.05 seconds.