Girls make history in triple jump open

History was made in the triple jump open for girls on the fourth day of the five-day ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last night.

For the first time, three female athletes at the championships went over 13 metres. In a dramatic finish to the event, defending champion, Jade Ann Dawkins of St Jago High, moved from fifth to first with her final attempt. She won with a mark of 13.28m. Jada Robinson of Immaculate Conception High finished second with 13.21m with Celine Riddle of Holmwood Technical third with 13.04m.

The meet was held up for a long period yesterday as there were reports that the track had been damaged and was repaired. The day’s last event, which was originally scheduled for 8:47 p.m., was rescheduled for 10:27 p.m.

At press time last night, former girls’ champions Edwin Allen High and defending boys’ champions Kingston College remained in front of their rivals.

Edwin Allen, after 28 finals, were in front with 155 points. Hydel 114, St Jago 67, Immaculate 63.3 and Holmwood Technical 41 close out the top five.

Kingston College, after 18 finals, led the boys with 147 and they were followed by Jamaica College 125, Calabar 77, St Jago 67 and Excelsior 51.

Early yesterday Jamaica College’s Chavez Penn won the boys’ Class Two triple jump with 15.92 metres. Romaine Lewis of Calabar ended second with 15.21m while Kesean Rhooms of Cornwall College ended third with 14.94m.

The final day of competition will begin at 1 p.m. with the long jump heptathlon for girls. There will be 43 finals and the meet is set to end at 8:52 p.m. with the boys’ 4x400m open.

In yesterday’s first final, the Class Three boys’ long jump, Kingston College extended their lead over Jamaica College after picking up 13 points to Jamaica College’s zero. Kingston College’s Alex King finished second with 6.33m, with teammate Daquan Dawkins was third with 6.19m. St Jago’s Winardo Faulknor won the event with 6.51m on his first attempt.

POLE VAULT WINNER

Lenworth Chung of Calabar took the win in the pole vault open with 3.90m, ahead of Kingston College’s Courtney Hanchard (3.80m) with Mark Phillips of Wolmer’s Boys third with 3.60m.

Edwin Allen had a one-two finish in the Class One girls’ high jump. Rasheda Samuels won after clearing 1.76m, ahead of her teammate Dijanae Bruce, second with 1.73m. Richelle Stanley of Holmwood Technical closed out a top three finish with 1.70m.

Dionjah Shaw picked up Edwin Allen’s first win on the day after striking gold in the girls’ Class Two discus. Shaw won with a throw of 45.21m, Shanttangelo Williams of Denbigh finished second with 41.63m, the same mark for third-place finisher Marla Kay Lampart of Clarendon College.

Zodieon Baker gave Edwin Allen another win in field events after soaring over 1.61m to capture the girls’ Class Three high jump. Sanique Watt of Immaculate High finished second with 1.58m as Kemoya Campbell of Edwin Allen took third with 1.55m.

Athletes from Edwin Allen and Jamaica College dominated the semifinals of the 800m.

In the Class Three girls’ 800m, Alikay Reynolds of Alphansus Davis, the 1500 metres gold medallist, is the fastest qualifier with 2:16.51. Edwin Allen’s Denique Palmer with 2:18.29 and her teammate Kevongaye Fowler (2:18.91) have the next two best times.

In Class Two, Holmwood Technical’s Jovi Rose is the fastest qualifier with 2:16.38, ahead of Edwin Allen’s Horecia Love with 2:18.12 and Chennaii Jarrett of St Elizabeth Technical with 2:17.29.

Edwin Allen’s duo of Rickeisha Simms with 2:16.18 and Monique Stewart with 2:17.79 are the two fastest qualifiers in Class One, ahead of Carlene Temple of Alphansus Davis with 2:16.26

Jamaica College were led by Cavel Nooks in Class Three with the top time of 2:02.65. Nooks’ teammate Cameron Williams was second best with 2:05.97, ahead of Obrien Clarke of Calabar with 2:09.79.

Samuel Creary of Jamaica College topped Class Two in 1:58,38, ahead of Kingston College’s Nahasho Ruto who did 2:00.72.

Yoshane Bowen of Maggotty High clocked 1:57.88 and emerged the leader in Class One ahead of Jamaica College’s Kemarrio Bygrave, the defending champion, who won his heat in 1;57.97.