HYDEL HEGEMONY
Ferry-based school stamps class on 400m finals on Champs Day 3
HYDEL High athletes Abigail Campbell and Nastassia Fletcher won two of the three girls’ 400m titles on Day Three of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium Thursday.
Campbell retained her Class One crown in style, Nastassia Fletcher rolled back the years to win the Class Two title, while Foga Road High’s Shameika McLean won the Class Three title in a mild upset.
Campbell led from the start and held on to win a well-judged race in 53.03 seconds, beating Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright, who ran 53.53 seconds, with Edwin Allen’s Kellyann Carr placing third, also with 53.53 seconds.
Fletcher, a former Class Three champion, was brilliant, running a season’s best 52.82 seconds, well ahead of her teammate Sashana Johnson (54.08), and Maddison Campbell of Holmwood Technical who ran 54.44 for the bronze medal.
McLean followed up on her promise from the semi-finals to win in 54.22 seconds, beating Holmwood Technical’s Tracey-Ann Evans (55.55) with Hydel’s Shaneil Henry third in 56.19.
All four 100m champions stayed on course for the sprint double after the first round of the 200m.
Class One champion Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia High, Class Two winner Shanoya Douglas of Muschett High, Shannia Campbell of St Jago in Class Three, and Adalia Simpson of Holmwood Technical in Class Four, advanced to the semi-finals.
Dockery led the Class One qualification with 23.22 seconds (-0.1m/s), Rihanna Allen of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) was next in 23.93 seconds (1.0m/s), Jounee Armstrong of Edwin Allen was next with 24.01 seconds (0.6m/s), and Jody-Ann Daley of Hydel High who ran 24.01 seconds (0.4m/s).
Holmwood Technical’s Doniellia Lewis, who was second in the 100m, also advanced with 24.21 seconds (1.2m/s).
Douglas, who is seeking to defend her Class Two title, did enough with 24.95 seconds (-1.1m/s) — eighth best overall — as Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls, who had taken the silver medal, ran 24.68 seconds (0.5m/s), which was sixth best.
Hydel High’s Sashana Johnson led the qualifying with a wind-aided 24.30 seconds (2.5m/s), followed by Shanika Lindsay of Alphansus Davis who ran 24.39 seconds (1.6m/s), with Excelsior High’s Breana Brown also advancing with a wind-aided 24.40 seconds (2.7m/s).
Also making progress were Britannaia Bailey of Holmwood Technical who had a wind-aided 24.59 seconds (3.0m/s) and Kerelle Etienne of Edwin Allen in 24.59 seconds (1.3m/s).
Holmwood Technical’s Jovi Rose will be seeking revenge for her 1500m loss on Wednesday as she led the qualifying for the Class Two 800m, running 2:17.05 minutes in the first round.
Edwin Allen High’s Kevongaye Fowler, who was next with 2:17.99, ahead of Keyah Anderson of The Queen’s School who ran 2:18.41, with the 1500m champion Alikay Reynolds of Alphansus Davis who also advanced in 2:18.81.
Defending champions Edwin Allen High, Hydel High and St Jago High have qualified for all four girls’ 4x100m relay finals on Saturday.
Holmwood Technical, who are expected to make a run for one of the top three spots at the end of the championships, are only in three of the finals after they fumbled in Class Four and finished well out of contention.
Hydel High qualified fastest in Class One with 45.62 seconds, followed by Edwin Allen High (45.76), Holmwood Technical (46.05), St Jago High (46.15), and Excelsior High (46.50).
(From left) Abrina Wright of Holmwood Technical, Abigail Campbell of Hydel, who won the race, and Kellyann Carr of Edwin Allen High in the Class One Girls 400m final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium Thursday night. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
