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Queens/Grace Jackson Meet

Meanwhile, the region's fastest youngster, Zharnel Hughes of Kingston College (KC), made his long-awaited debut on local soil, winning his Class One 400m heat in a wonderful 48.80 seconds.

The Carifta and Pan Am Junior 100m champion turned back Wolmer's Boys' Jaheel Hyde, the World Youth 110m hurdles champion, who did 49.16 seconds.

But the fastest time was done by the impressive-looking Nathon Allen of St Jago, who clocked 47.96 seconds ahead of Jason Drake of Calabar High in 48.66.

KC's Karayme Bartley was third quickest with 48.76 seconds.

KC's Donte Williams continued his good form, stopping the clock at 49.78 seconds in his heat. His teammate and Class Three record holder Nathaniel Bann was second-quickest with 49.95, with Calabar's Akeem Francis third fastest in 50.53 seconds.

Calabar's Christopher Taylor cruised home in the Class Three 400m in 50.85, ahead of Javad Black of St Jago in 51.61 seconds.

Edino Steele of Racers Track Club lowered the 400m men's open record of 46.90 to 46.75 seconds. Riker Hylton, also of Racers, was second-fastest, winning his heat in 47.74 seconds, with Josef Robertson of Cameron Blazer, third quickest in 47.86.


Cameka Witter of St Andrew Technical High was quickest in the Class One girls 400m with 56.24 ahead of Shantae Green of Holmwood in 57.49.

Ashley Williams of Holmwood captured the Class Two 400m in 56.66, which would have placed her a close second in Class One. Shanice Reid of St Jago was second-fastest in 58.19 seconds.

It was Holmwood again in the Class Three 400m with Nadesha Wallace fastest with 58.39 seconds ahead of St Jago's Sashell Frater with 59.32 seconds.

Athaliah Boyd of St Jago won the girls' high jump Under-17 with a height of 1.65m ahead of Colista Baker of Holmwood with 1.60m.

Shanice Love, with 43.05m, captured the girls Under-17 discus. Coya Christie of Wolmer's was second

with 39.90m.

Kyle Mitchell of Wolmer's Boys won the Under-17 discus with 43.96m ahead of Patrick Williams of Jamaica College with 39.93m.

World Youth 400m champion Martin Manley of St Jago looked to be in good form winning his Class One 200m heat in 21.48 seconds. His teammate Chad Walker was second-fastest in 21.70 seconds.

Last season's Class Three sprint double record holder Jevaughn Matherson of KC showed that he is in good nick, cruising home in heat one of the Class Two 200m in 22.18. This season's find, Akeem Bloomfield, was more impressive, strolling home in heat four in an awesome 21.89 seconds. St Jago's Shamar Barnes was third-fastest with 22.73 seconds.

Calabar's Dejour Russell with 22.91 seconds was quickest in the Class Three 200m ahead of Gary Gordon of St Jago in 23.61. KC's Yashawn Hamilton was next in 23.62.

The outstanding Class Four champion of last-year Kimone Shaw of St Jago, is proving that she will be hard to beat in Class Three with an impressive 24.69 seconds for the 200m, which was easily the fastest of the day.

Her teammate Sashell Frater won her heat in 25.44 seconds ahead of Krissancia Sang of John Mills in 25.79 seconds.

KC took the quinella in the Under-17 long jump courtesy of Tadje Thompson and Sham Wellington with 6.65m and 6.63m, respectively. Calabar's Alex Robinson was third with 6.34m.

Malik Lynch of Wolmer's Boys captured the Under-20 discus with 44.13m ahead of KC's Mickel Hudson

with 42.14m.

The much-talked-about Vashon McCarthy of Ascot, competing under the name "Throwers Are Us", won the Class One shot put

with 15.84m.

Hughes confident
Sprinter say’s he’s ready for all challengers

By Howard Walker Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, January 28, 2014
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Last year the name Zharnel Hughes was not widely known until he defeated two of the island's most promising youngsters — Jazeel Murphy and Jevaughn Minzie — at the Carifta Games in the 100m.

The lanky sprinter from Anguilla won in 10.44 seconds to Murphy's 10.48 in March, then returned in August and repeated his dominance over Jamaica's prodigy at the Pan Am Junior Championships, lowering his time 10.31 seconds. Murphy finished fourth in 10.46 seconds.

Hughes, 18, the unknown sprinter, had become the fastest youngster in the region, encompassing the Caribbean and the Americas.

He has become a targeted man after making his seasonal debut, and then easily dispatching another of Jamaica's most promising runners in Jaheel Hyde — the 110m hurdles World Youth Champion — in the 400m last Saturday.

Hughes, drawn in lane one and Hyde in lane six, utilised his 100m speed and covered the field quite comfortably before cruising home in 48.80. Hyde, who did 46.63 at Champs last year, finished second in 49.16 seconds.

"I know everybody is targeting me right now, but if they keep on targeting me, they might end up messing up their events. So, I will just tell them keep focussing on what they have to do and not on me," Hughes told the Jamaica Observer.

"It was a great experience. I just came out here with a race plan today...despite the lane that I got, which was lane one, I got out real hard, just went in at the back stretch and closed up on the guys. I used one of the guys as a target and when he kicked, I just waited for a while then kicked afterwards. Overall the race was great," Hughes explained.

"I am pleased with my performance. I am pleased with the time because I am not a 400m guy, so I am thankful for it," he added.

The talented youngster from Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in Anguilla in the Leeward Islands, with a population of approximately 14,000, won a scholarship to attend the IAAF's Regional High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) in Kingston.

Hughes, who has been training with the likes of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir at Racers Track Club, will also wear the purple and white jersey of Kingston College (KC) this season.

"At KC it is just amazing man," he said with a smile on his face. "The guys... they gave me some nicknames there, I wonder where they get them. Being at KC is just an enjoyable experience and I am enjoying myself representing the school. So, I am looking forward to the upcoming events."

With no Murphy around, Hughes is expected to renew his battle with Minzie of Bog Walk and the impressive Calabar High pair of Javon Francis and Michael O'Hara, setting the stage for some enticing races.

"I am preparing myself really good. I can tell you that I feel as if I got much stronger this year, so when the time comes to run you will see what happens," said a confident Hughes.

4 records fall at Western Champs girls' eliminations

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer

Friday, February 14, 2014
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Rusea's High's Lamara Distin in action in the girls’ Class Three high jump at the COCAA Gatorade/Hanover Co-operative Credit Union's girls’ Western Champs eliminations held at the Colin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea yesterday.

LUCEA, Hanover — Rusea's High School are the surprise leaders after nine completed finals of the County of Cornwall Athletics Association's (COCAA) Gatorade/Hanover Co-operative Credit Union's Girls' Western Champs on yesterday's eliminations held at the Colin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea.

Rusea's were on 89 points, 38 more than defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) on 61 with six more finals to be contested at press time

last night.

Grange Hill are in third place on 34, followed by Herbert Morrison Technical (25.5) and Frome Technical (19) rounding out the top five.

Four records were broken yesterday — two in the high jump, the Class One discus and the Class Two 100m.

Rusea's High's Lamara Distin was impressive in the Class Three high jump, clearing 1.71m to break the six-year-old 1.70m set by Peta-Gay Reid of STETHS in 2008.

Celena Morris of STETHS took the silver with 1.55m, while Shamette Donaldson of Rusea's was third with 1.45m.

Herbert Morrison's Sashane Hanson cleared 1.70m to win the Class One high jump, breaking the previous mark of 1.65m that was jointly held by STETHS' Rochelle Reid and last year's winner Shanice Cannigan of Rusea's.

Cannigan was second with 1.65m yesterday, while her teammate Yollande Frame was third with 1.60m.

Grange Hill's Felecia Streete broke the Class One discus throw record on her way to a double as she also won the Class One shot put.

Streete, a finalist at the ISSA Girls' Champs last year, threw the discus 45.25m to break the 41.09m mark set last year by Mannings' Omesha Locke.

She also won the shot put with 10.68m as Frome Technical's Shanika Walker was second to Streete in both event, throwing 10.59m in the shot and 32.74m in the discus.

Green Island High's Vanessa Pusey clocked an impressive 11.5 seconds to win her Class Two 100m semi-final heat, faster than the 11.8 seconds run by former Herbert Morrison runner Seidetha Palmer in 2010.

Rusea's High runners won two of the three 1,500m races as Stephanie Barrett retained the Class One event in 4:59.72, just missing the record 4:49.21 she set last year.

Tara Bert took the Class Three gold medal running 5:23.33 ahead of BB Coke's Shantel Beckford and Green Pond's Ashan Sanderson.

STETHS' Junelle Bromfield won the Class Two race in 5:15.74, beating Rene gammon of BB Coke and Shanice Buchanan of Rusea's.

Points standing after 9 events

Ruseas High-89, STETHS-61, Grange Hill-34, Herbert Morrison-25.5, Frome Tech-19, Petersfield High- 18, BB Coke-14, Lewisville- 11, Manning's School-11, Hampton-9, Mt Alvernia-9, Green Pond-8, William Knibb-7, Spot Valley-3.5, Balaclava- 3, Rhodes Hall-3.

sorry the school boys went under 47 seconds and not 46

Sprinters to shine at Carifta trials

Published: Saturday | March 8, 2014 0 Comments
Helps
Helps
1 2 >

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

The best local junior talent will be on show today and tomorrow at the National Stadium as they hunt places on the national team to the April 18-21 Carifta Games in Martinique.

Athletes will compete in the Under-20 and Under-18 categories. The Under-18 age group is being run for the first time. Last year, a decision was taken in the Bahamas, to move from the Under-17 category to put the Games in line with the age levels at the Central American and Caribbean Championships and World Youth Championships. In addition, more athletes will be able to make the trip this time around as there has been an increase to a maximum 84 athletes instead of 70 in the past.

With the ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships looming, fierce competition in both age groups is expected as athletes will use the opportunity to tune up for that meet and also try and gain psychological advantages over their opponents.

After missing last year's championships in the Bahamas because of chickenpox, Calabar High's Michael O'Hara is expected to dominate the Under-20 200m and 110m hurdles.

The Under-18 boys sprints will be hot. Kingston College's Akeem Byfield and Jhevaughn Matherson, and St Jago High's Raheem Chambers are the leading contenders. Others expected to figure prominently are St Jago's Jordan Chin, Waseem Williams of Jamaica College, and Calabar's Tyreke Wilson.

RENEWED BATTLE

Another keen battle is expected in the 400m as last year's Class Three Champs record holder Nathaniel Bann of KC will renew battle with Calabar's new sensation, Christopher Taylor who a week ago became the fastest-ever Class Three athlete over the one-lap event after a sensational 48.54 seconds at the Corporate Area Development Meet.

Wolmer's Girls' duo Shauna Helps and Jonielle Smith looks set to dominate the girls' Under-20 sprints. Both athletes are in great form, especially Helps who ran a scorching anchor leg at the Gibson Relays in the Class Two 4x100 metres relay to give her team a big win. One of the athletes on that final leg was last year's Carifta Under-17 double sprint champion Natalliah Whyte of St Jago who will be competing in the Under-18 category where she is expected to battle with her teammate Kimone Shaw and Edwin Allen's Aaliyah Hopkins

Super Seniors lead Edwin Allen

Published: Saturday | March 8, 2014 0 Comments
Marleena Eubanks
Marleena Eubanks

HUBERT LAWRENCE

Edwin Allen Comprehensive High School will be led by a group of outstanding outgoing seniors at Girls Championships. Between them, they could win every running event in Class One.

The school's sprint crew includes four Champs gold medal winners in Christiana Williams, Claudette Allen, Saqukine Cameron and Monique Spencer. The first three won gold in 2012 in the Class Two 100m, the long jump and the 200m respectively, while Spencer won the Class One 100m last year.

Williams is back from the injury she suffered while winning that 2012 gold medal. Short and powerfully built, Williams blasted to win the Central Champs 100m last week in 11.62 seconds on the grass at Kirkvine. Cameron has had injury problems too, but is back in shape. She can run 100m, 200m or 400m though her best distance is in the middle.

That leaves coach Dyke with a choice to make. At the Gibson Relays, Spencer ran a nippy leg of the 4x400m, clocked in 52.8 seconds. That supports solid 400m efforts at the Kirkvine Development in January and at STETHS. With Williams fit, he could deploy her to the 200m, where she was second to Shericka Jackson last year, and the 400.

The other member of Edwin Allen's class of super seniors, Marleena Eubanks, has won six individual Champs gold medals. That number might have been bigger if she hadn't been hit by a discus in practice just before Champs last year. That training field mishap limited her to just one, in the Class One 1500m. She has won at 800m, 1500m and 3000m in her Champs career and her points are typically safe and secure.

She is arriving at her last Champs in great shape. In Montego Bay at the Western Relays, she hustled through relay splits of 54.6 on the 4x400 and 2.08.1 in the 4x800. Two weeks later at the Gibson Relays, the comparative statistics were 54.1 and 2.07.1.

The Holmwood Trio

As rich as the senior group is, it might have been even better. The Holmwood trio of Gleneve Grange, Chris-Ann Gordon and Kediesha Dallas left with a year of Champs eligibility remaining. Grange and Gordon are in the USA at college and Dallas, who had finished sixth form, is at GC Foster College. Had they been around, the senior group would have been bursting at the seams.

In team championships, leadership helps. With Eubanks and its splendid sprint crew, the Edwin Allen super seniors could be the decisive difference between triumph and tribulation.

HUBERT LAWRENCE has been attending Champs since 1980.

Excitement high at Champs

champs live @ 2.30 central standard time daily
Published: Friday | March 28, 2014 0 Comments

Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

There are still two full days of competition to come at the 2014 edition of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships at the National Stadium but already the excitement has reached fever pitch.

The National Stadium buzzed with excitement last night as the big guns in the Class One boys 200 metres clashed in the semi-finals.

The exciting Anguillan sprinter Zharnel Hughes of Kingston College was the most impressive of all. Hughes demolished his rivals in semi-final two, clocking 20.32 seconds, seven-hundredths of a second outside the 20.25 record set by Usain Bolt in 2003.

Bolt's mark looks sure to be beaten in tomorrow's final, as Hughes, who did not appear to be at top speed, will be pushed by the quartet of Jevaughn Minzie of Bog Walk High, who won semi-final one in 20.37, Calabar's Javon Francis who was second in 20.58, St Jago's Martin Manley who took semi-final three in 20.57 and Calabar's Michael O'Hara, who finished second to Manley in 20.60.

The top sprinters will clash today in the semi-finals and final of the 100 metres. Hughes enters the semi-finals with the fastest time, 10.72. He is followed by Minzie 10,75, O'Hara 10.86 and Manley, 10.92.

In the Class One girls 100m, Monique Spencer of Edwin Allen carries the best time into today's semi-finals. The Edwin Allen High standout ran 12.02 seconds in the preliminary round.

Basil Bingham of Calabar High won gold in the Class One Boys discus with a 60.29m throw. Petersfield High took silver through Glenford Watson, 54.21m, and third went to Demar Gayle of Edwin Allen, 53.36m.

Earlier in the day, Cornwall College's Warren Barrett Jr had a record throw of 18.18 metres to win the Class Two boys shot put. Kevin Nedrick of Petersfield won silver with 16.08m and Kyle Mitchell of Wolmer's took bronze with a throw of 16.03m.

On Wednesday night, O'Brian Frith of Holmwood, added his name to the record books by winning the boys 2000m steeplechase in a record 5:59.70.

Shiann Salmon erased the old standard in the girls Class Three high jump with a record height of 1.78m. Her outstanding performance was the catalyst for Hydel's massive leap up the girls standing.

"This is new territory for me but I am happy to have won convincingly and now I can turn my attention to bigger things," Salmon said after her win. Rusea's Lamara Distin, 1.70m, took silver, leaping 1.70m and Shania Ingram, the bronze also with a height of 1.70m.

Malik Cunningham took home the gold for Jamaica College in the boys Class Three high jump with a leap of 1.86m, second went to Ricardo Clarke of Calabar, also 1.86m, while St George's College's Alexander Thompson took bronze with 1.80m.

In the boys triple jump action, Kingston College's Gavin Gibson had the best jump heading into today's final. His distance of 15.51m leads the field ahead of Odaine Lewis of Cornwall College 15.49m and Obrien Wasome of Jamaica College 15.31m.

POINTS STANDINGS

After four finals in the boys' section, Jamaica College lead with 28 points, Kingston College are next on 27 points, Edwin Allen - 15, Calabar - 13, and St Jago - 11 round off the top five.

In the girls category after six events; Hydel are on 57, Edwin Allen - 48, Holmwood - 19, St Jago - 17, Manchester High - 14, Wolmer's Girls - 12, St Andrew High - 11, Vere Technical - 8, The Queens School - 7, Rusea's High - 7, and Glengoffe High - 5.

Hughes scorcher!!

Published: Saturday | March 29, 2014 0 Comments



JC, Edwin Allen in front

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Kingston College's (KC) Anguillan-born Zharnel Hughes turned in a scintillating performance to smash the boys' Class One 100 metres record on yesterday's fourth day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships at the National Stadium.

The lanky Hughes clocked 10.12 seconds to erase the previous mark of 10.21, which was set by Yohan Blake of St Jago in 2007. Bog Walk's Jevaughn Minzie also dipped below the old mark in taking second in 10.16 while Raheem Robinson of Wolmer's Boys surprisingly took home the bronze in 10.37.

Hughes was delighted with his performance.

"The race was a very exciting race for me," said Hughes. "I was focusing on execution, on winning, and not on the record but it came and I am happy," he said.

The Class One girls' 100m was captured in near record time by Edwin Allen High's Christania Williams. Williams clocked 11.19 to defeat Jonielle Smith of Wolmer's Girls (11.32) and Monique Spencer, also of Edwin Allen, 11.46.

Earlier Wolmer's Jaheel Hyde confirmed his billing as the best 400m junior hurdler in the country when he posted a national junior record time of 49.49 seconds to win the event. Hyde, the son of former national footballer Lenworth, was overjoyed.

"I am very happy with my performance because I have worked very hard throughout the season to achieve this," said Hyde.

The record was also smashed in the Class Two boys' 100m. St Jago's Raheem Chambers clocked 10.29 to beat the 10.34 set by Yohan Blake in 2006. Jhevaughn Matherson of KC was second in 10.37 and Jelani Walker of St George's, third in 10.61.

Shauna Helps of Wolmer's Girls sped to 11.80 to win the girls' Class Two 100m ahead of the St Jago pair of Natalliah Whyte who was also credited with 11.80 and Shanice Reid, 11.89.

Meanwhile, Jamaica College lead the boys' standings with 106 points (after 18 finals) heading into today's final day of the championships. The top ten is completed by Calabar 105, KC 81.50, St Elizabeth Technical 46, St Jago 39, Wolmer's 35.5, Cornwall 34, Edwin Allen 32, St George's College 27, and Munro College 27.

On the girls' side Edwin Allen lead with 154.5 points after 20 finals ahead of Hydel 112, St Jago 98.5, Holmwood 78, Vere Technical 42, Wolmer's 39, Manchester 30, Alpha 28.5, St Andrew High 25, and Rusea's 18.

EARLY RESULTS

In early evening results Edwin Allen's Marleena Eubanks retained her Class One 1500m title in 4:32.90. Monique McPherson of St Jago finished second in 4:34.62 ahead of Rusea's Stephanie Barrett 4:44.15.

Calabar's Rajay Hamilton captured the boys' equivalent in 3:58.30 ahead of Spalding High's Chadoye Dawson (3:59.01) and Jorel Bellafonte of Calabar who was third in 4:00.29.

Paul-Ann Gayle of Edwin Allen topped the girls' Class Two discus with a throw of 44.27m ahead of her teammate Janell Fullerton (43.13m) and Shanice Love of Excelsior (39.39m).

Holmwood's Tamara Moncrieffe won gold in the girls' triple open with a mark of 13.51m. Shardia Lawrence of Hydel, 12.92m, took silver. Sabina Allen of St Jago threw 12.83m for bronze.

Edwin Allen reclaim girls' throne
...Hydel make strong statement that they belong

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, March 30, 2014 1 comment
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Edwin Allen reclaim girls’ throne

IT was hardly a surprise as Edwin Allen High cruised to their second girls' title at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships by a massive margin, beating former champions St Jago High by 74.5 points (337.5 to 263) in front of a packed and vociferous National Stadium yesterday.

Hydel High achieved their highest finish, placing third with 229 points just ahead of defending champions Holmwood Technical, who finished outside of the top-two for the first time since 2003 when they won their first ever title.

Edwin Allen, who won their first title in 2012, brushed aside all challengers, ending the five-day championships by winning three of the six relay events, including the final event of the meet, the 4x400m in a decent 3:35.78 minutes.

Edwin Allen broke the record in the sprint medley, running 4:00.47 minutes to finish ahead of St Jago and Vere Technical. They added the Class One 4x100m as well.

Holmwood Technical's defence never materialised as they went out with a whimper, and to make matters worse, were disqualified in three of the four sprint relays contested last night.

As early as the ninth final on Thursday morning, the Michael Dyke-coached girls were well on their way to dethroning arch rivals Holmwood Technical.

Just before 6:30 pm yesterday, Dyke told the Sunday Observer that they had come to Kingston on Monday knowing this would be their time to shine.

In front of a jubilant, but focused group of athletes and team officials at their tent on the Stadium East complex, Dyke said: "We knew we would win from as far back as September when we started our preparation."

He said when they packed their bags and left Frankfield, Clarendon, on Monday, the win was as good as completed, but they still knew they had work to do to ensure there would be no more mistakes and bitter losses like last year when they were beaten by five points.

"We feel accomplished right now, but the disappointments of last year fuelled us right through the year and this victory is as a result of total teamwork from the athletes and the staff we have here," Dyke noted.

The girls accounted for seven of the 21 records that were broken during the week.

Convent of Mercy Alpha Academy's Class Four sprinter Kiara Grant was the only sprint double winner after she bested the field to win the 200m in 25.08 seconds after winning the 100m a day earlier.

Ashanti Moore of Hydel took second place in 25.11, with Kayla Bonnick of St Jago, who was second on Friday, finishing one place down in third yesterday, running 25.31 seconds, as her teammate Joanne Reid was fourth in 25.35 seconds.

Jonielle Smith of Wolmer's made up for her silver medal in the 100m a day earlier with a fine run to take the gold in the Class One 200m in 23.45 seconds, ahead of Edwin Allen's Saqukine Cameron.

Cameron, who was in lane eight, was timed in 23.58 seconds, with Holmwood Technical's Sashalee Forbes taking bronze in 23.65 seconds.

The disqualification of Wolmer's Class Two 100m winner Shauna Helps after she false-started, opened the way for 100m silver medallist Nattalliah Whyte of St Jago to win the 200m gold in 24.30 seconds, ahead of teammate Shanice Reid in 24.45 seconds, and Holmwood Technical's Britney Hew taking third with 25.26 seconds.

Hydel's Shaniel English improved on her silver medals in the 100m to win the Class Three 200m in 24.31 seconds ahead of St Jago's Kimone Shaw (24.44 seconds) with 100m winner Shellece Clarke taking third (24.54 seconds).

Vere Technical's IAAF World Youth Championships semi-finalist Yanique McNeil avenged her loss at the Carifta Trials as she held on to beat Balaclava High's Dawnalee Loney in an exciting Class One 400m final.

Loney had chased and beaten a quality field at the Carifta Trials, but this time she could not catch McNeil who just edged her on the line to win in 52.88 seconds.

The Balaclava athlete, who started her kick with 130 metres to go, was timed in 52.91 seconds to take silver with Petersfield High's Asaine Hall, who led most of the race, taking bronze in 53.25 seconds.

There was a stirring home stretch battle in the Class Two 400 final with Papine High's Tiffany James just pulling ahead late to win in 54.19 seconds and upgrade her silver medal from last year to gold.

Hydel's Taqece Duggan, who was second in Class Three last year, won her second straight silver with 54.70 seconds, just edging Holmwood Technical's Ashley Williams (54.78 seconds).

St Elizabeth Technical's Satanya Wright lived up to expectations with a controlled and well-timed run to win in 54.78 seconds ahead of St Catherine High's Anna-Kay Allen (55.18 seconds) with Vere Technical's Sanique Walker taking the bronze in 55.53 seconds.

St Jago High School's Peta-gay Williams upset IAAF World Youth Championships gold medallist and World Youth 'record' holder Yanique Thompson to win the Class 1 100m hurdles in what was one of the most anticipated clashes of the day.

Thompson got off to the better start but Williams, who was disqualified in last year's class 2 finals after false- starting, hurdled brilliantly to catch her mid-way the race then pulled ahead to win in 13.81 seconds.

Thompson was second in 13.95m as Edwin Allen's Claudette Allen was third in 14.93 seconds.

Both Williams and Thompson had to seek medical attention after both crashed to the ground after the race; Thompson stumbled just before crossing the line while Williams appeared to twist her ankle as she celebrated her victory.

St Jago High's Mellicia Gordon ran 10.49 seconds running into a negative 3.1metres per second wind, to win the Class Four 70m hurdles breaking the 21- year-old record of 10.50 seconds set in 1993 by Tulia Robinson of Manchester High.

Calabar take boys' trophy again
Champs boys send chilling warning with ruinous record-shattering form

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, March 30, 2014 1 comment
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Wolmer’s Jeheel Hyde (right) and JC’s Tyler Mason in a ding-dong battle in the Class One 110m hurdles final. Hyde won in a smashing 13.53 seconds to Mason’s 13.55 seconds. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

CALABAR High easily captured their third consecutive ISSA GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships and their 24th overall on a pulsating final day of action in which Javon Francis erased Usain Bolt's 400m record at the National Stadium yesterday.

Despite the early hiccups, the green-and-black-clad boys from Red Hills Road sorted out their glitches and easily dispatched their rivals, rattling up 305 points to win by a huge 96.5-point margin. KC finished second with 208.5 ahead of JC in third with 190 points. St Jago with 158.5 were fourth ahead of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) on 123 points.

It was a more than deserved victory for Calabar as they showed tremendous all-round strength to secure one of the biggest winning margins in the boys' section for years.

Overall, 14 boys records were broken. Among them St Jago, with 3:08.31 minutes, erased Munro College's 3:09.21 in the 4X400m. STETHS also dipped below the previous record with 3:08.67 minutes for second, while Calabar finished fourth in 3:12.32 without the injured Javon Francis.

Calabar started the day in second spot on 105 points, one behind Jamaica College with 106 with Kingston College faltering in third with 81.5, and by time the 400m was completed, the writing was on the wall. Calabar rattled up 36 points, KC got 16 and JC garnered only four points.

Francis, the World Championship 4x400 relay silver medallist, went out like a bullet reminiscent of his heroics at Moscow last year, and in a sustained performance of speed and stamina, he lowered Bolt's Class One 11-year-old record of 45.35 seconds to 45.00 flat.

It is a world-leading time by Francis, who bettered the time 45.03 seconds of Brazil's Anderson Henriques done on March 14.

Francis also surpassed Jamaica's Edino Steele's 45.44 seconds.

St Jago's Nathon Allen was second in a respectable 46.16 with Lenox Williams of Manchester finishing third in 46.48 seconds.

Class Three record holder Christopher Taylor got things rolling, easily winning in 48.80 seconds and pulled his teammate Brandon Heath into second in 50.50 seconds. That was 16 massive points for Calabar with both JC and KC failing to add to their tally.

KC responded in Class Two picking maximum 16 points courtesy of Donte Williams and Nathaniel Bann in 47.94 and 48.01 seconds, respectively. But Calabar picked up 11 massive points, finishing third and fourth with Anthony Carpenter and Aykeeme Francis in 48.21 and 48.68 seconds, respectively.

Devon Spencer of STETHS broke the Javelin Open record, throwing 64.08m ahead of favourite Orlando Thomas of KC who was second with 60.29m and also went above the previous record of 59.66 held by KC's Zaavan Richards set in 2013. Calabar's Adrian Mitchell and Najair Jackson were third and fifth with 56.14m and 52.32m, respectively.

By that time, their school had opened up a 41-point lead after 22 finals.

The irrepressible Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer's completed the hurdles double chasing and catching Tyler Mason of JC in 110m event winning in 13.53 seconds to Mason's 13.55 seconds.

Hyde, the 2013 World Youth Championship record holder, who on Friday broke the 400m hurdles in 49.49 seconds, sprinted another 300 metres to celebrate in front of his adoring school fans waving their gold and maroon flags.

Young Devaughn Gayle gave Spot Valley High probably their first win at Champs as he took the Class Three 800m in 2:02.06 minutes, holding off the tall and powerful-looking Andrew Ashby of Calabar High in 2:02.18.

Following the completion of the 800 metres, Calabar had established a 72-point lead, racing to 200 points after 28 finals. Despite Jorel Bellafonte pulling out of the Class One 800m, his teammate Raja Hamilton outgunned the two Spalding runners in defending champion Kevon Robinson and Chadoye Dawson.

Hamilton won in 1:51.41 minutes ahead of Robinson in 1:51.76. Dawson did 1:52.41 for third.

By the end of the 200m, at approximately 5:50 pm, Calabar opened up a 79-point lead entering the relays. As the bright light of the sun went down, so did the chances of both KC and JC at that point and had officially kissed Champs goodbye.

However, in the Class One 200m, the hearts of Calabar's fans and wider Jamaicans, briefly stopped when the affable Francis pulled up while chasing Jevaughn Minzie 25 metres out from the line. But at the end, it was not that bad as he walked across the line and earned a point for his team then walked strongly back to the Stadium East Calabar tent.

In the absence of Zharnel Hughes of KC, Minzie comfortably won in 20.50 seconds ahead of the late- finishing Martin Manley in 20.73 seconds. Calabar's Michael O'Hara, running out of lane eight, finished third in a disappointing 20.86.

Tyreke Wilson completed the sprint double in Class Three and in the process broke the 200m record with 21.72 seconds. It was the eighth boys record of the meet. The previous record was held by KC's Jhevaughn Matherson of 21.87 last year.

But Matherson continued to amaze, and at 15-years-old, he ran an astonishing 20.97 seconds to win the Class Two final ahead of the 100 record holder Raheem Chambers of St Jago in 21.19 seconds. KC's pre-race favourite Akeem Bloomfield withdrew due to injury.

The famed Purples from North Street, greeted the relays with a smashing run to erase the long standing 24-year-old Medley Open record of 3:37.23 minutes. KC with a magnificent 800m anchor leg from Miguel Morrison, stopped the clock at 3:25.78 minutes. Second- placed Calabar also went under the previous record with 3:26.01 minutes.

Not to be outdone, World Youth high jump bronze medallist Christoffe Bryan of Wolmers upgraded his Class One high jump record twice from 2.19m to 2.23m.

Calabar running without Javon Francis broke the Class One 4x100 relay record of 39.78 and lowered it to 39.35 seconds. JC also dipped below the previous record with 39.69 seconds in second.

KC responded in Class Two with Matherson and won in 40.89 seconds. The champions returned in Class Three and set another record of 41.81 seconds for the 4x100m relay. It was the 13th boys record of the meet.

OBrian Frith of Holmwood Technical completed his double easily winning the 5,000m in 15:31.71 minutes, having broken the 2,000m steeplechase record on Wednesday.

Record haul!
Jamaica garner 88 medals at 43rd Carifta Games

Howard Walker, Paul Reid

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 2 Comments
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Jamaica’s Jauvaney James (#344) on his way to winning the boys’ Under-18 1,500m gold medal.

Jamaica unofficially racked up a record haul of 88 medals to top the 43rd staging of the Carifta Games at Stade Municipal Pierre Aliker in Martinique for the 30th consecutive year and their 37th overall since the first staging in 1972.

On Thursday before departing for the French territory, Neil Harrison, the head coach of the 84-member Jamaican team, the largest delegation to ever take part in the games, told the Jamaica Observer that expectations were high for yet another outstanding Carifta Games, and he was right.

The Jamaicans totally dominated the 26 other nations at the Games and garnered 88 medals, comprised of 42 gold, 34 silver and 12 bronze to break their 10-year-old record haul of 84 medals established in Hamilton, Bermuda, in 2004.

Jamaica started the day with 51 medals — of 25 gold, 19 silver and seven bronze — and collected another 37 as they dominated not only in the sprints, but the middle and long distances, hurdles and field events.

Janeek Brown and Sidney Marshall got things going for Jamaica by capturing gold and silver in the Under-18 girls' 100m hurdles in 13.48 and 13.62 seconds, respectively, with Trinidadian Jeminise Parris third in 13.79 seconds.

The outstanding Jaheel Hyde won his second individual gold of the championships, running a personal best 13.10 seconds to destroy the field in the Under-18 boys' 110m hurdles final.

The IAAF World Youth Championships gold medallist led from the start and dragged teammate Roje Chin Jackson into second place in 13.46 seconds, with Barbados' Michael Nicholson winning the bronze in 13.79 seconds.

Jamaica's Tyler Mason was second in the Under-20 boys' final in 13.25 seconds, just off Omar McLeod's one-year-old National Junior Record 13.24 seconds, beaten to the tape by Guadeloupe's Wilhelm Belocian, who won the gold in 13.23 seconds, while Reubin Walters of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 13.57 seconds.

There was an upset in the Under-20 girls' race when Jamaica's World Youth Champion Yanique Thompson finished fourth as Barbados' Akela Jones ran 13.55 seconds to win her third gold of the championships with Jamaican Peta-Gay Williams second in 13.57 seconds and Guadeloupe's Chrystie Lange third in 13.59 seconds. Jones completed a remarkable Games having won the long jump earlier and the high jump on Sunday.

Demar Gayle took the gold medal in the Under-20 boys' shot put held in the morning session with a throw of 16.72m, to beat Trinidad's Kenejah Williams with 16.55m, and Barbados' Romario Antoine with 16.42m.

Shanique Wright took the bronze in the Under-18 girls' triple jump in 12.26m, as Guadeloupe's Esmerelda Yannis Davids won her fourth straight gold medal in the event with 13.06m, beating Martinique's Axelle Eugenie with 12 26m.

Olivia Leckford won the Under-20 girls' javelin throw with a best mark of 44.41m in a one-two finish with teammate Isheka Binns (43.32m), and Guadeloupe's Pricillia Fonds taking third in 39.17m.

Jamaica also dominated the 800m, winning three of the four races on track. Ryan Butler and Ryan Dunkley were first and second in the Under-18 boys' 800m. Butler won in 1:55.61 minutes and Dunkley did 1:56.03.

Kevon Robinson and Raja Hamilton also occupied the top two spots in the Under-20 category in 1:51.02 minutes and 1:51.05 minutes, respectively. They outsped Calabar High's Jorel Bellafonte, representing the Cayman Islands, who finished fourth in 1:52.42 minutes.

Monique McPherson (2:09.85) and Sasha-Gay White (2:13.13) copped the top two spots in the girls' Under-20 800m. In the Under-18 girls', Jamaica's Junelle Bromfield (2:10.79) and Britnie Dixon (2:13.33) were second and third, behind winner Faheemah Scrader of Bermuda who won in 2:10.68 minutes.

Jamaica had raced to 70 medals prior to the start of the 200 metres and they picked up a further seven to be on 77 medals entering the relays with a few field events still in progress.

Natalliah Whyte defended her Under-18 crown in 23.36 seconds, with her teammate Shellece Clark third with 23.61. Sada Williams of Barbados was second in 23.43.

Chad Walker, who did not compete at the ISSA Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships after switching from Jamaica College to St Jago High, captured the Under-18 200m in 20.99 seconds. His 15-year-old teammate Jhevaughn Matherson was second in 21.13 seconds. Bahamian Javan Martin was third in 21.15.

Jamaica's Kadisha Dallas picked up the bronze in the girls' Under-20 after her teammate Saqukine Cameron pulled up injured while in third spot, approximately 60m from the line. Kayelle Clarke of Trinidad & Tobago won in 23.10 ahead of Kadecia Baird of Guyana, who clocked 23.13 seconds.

Meanwhile, Calabar High's Michael O'Hara looked to be back to his best as he sped to victory in the boys' Under-20 200m in 20.50 and pulled his Jamaican teammate Jevaughn Minzie into second with 20.56. Levi Cadogan of Barbados was third in 20.64 seconds.

At this point, the focus was really on whether or not Jamaica could break their 2004 record medal haul of 84 medals. Jamaica's medal tally was now 77, 34 gold, 31 silver and 12 bronze.

That was quickly increased to 79, courtesy of a one-two finish by Obrien Frith and Romario Foote in the boys' 5,000m open. Frith won in 15:48.51 minutes with Foote second in 15:51.66. Third went to Brian Ludop of Martinique with 16:04. 56 minutes.

Jamaica dominated the four 4x400m relays winning three and placing second in the other. The Under-18 girls anchored by Tiffany James won in 3:37.65 minutes, ahead of the Bahamas (3:41.90) and Guyana (3: 46.23).

The outstanding Jaheel Hyde captured his third gold medal, anchoring Jamaica's Under-18 boys to victory in the 4x400m relay. He teamed up with lead-off man Nigel Ellis, Nathaniel Bann and Martin Manley and won in 3:12.63 minutes. The Bahamas were second with 3:13.16, with Trinidad and Tobago third in 3:13.77 minutes.

In the girls' Under-20, Jamaica got a scare when Yanique McNeil seemed to have injured herself on the second leg, but was still able to hand over the baton to Andrenette Knight before Dawnalee Loney anchored the team to victory in 3:38.20 minutes over Trinidad and Tobago with 3:46.11 and the Bahamas third in 3:47.64.

The team of Ivan Henry, Okeen Williams, Marco Doonaughtsingh and Nathon Allen was second in 3:07.71 minutes for the record-breaking 85th medal of the Games. Trinidad and Tobago won in 3:06.02 with the Bahamas some way back in third with 3:11.32 minutes.