SHANOYA Douglas of Holland High and Excelsior High’s Riquelme Reid were in spanking form on yesterday’s opening day of competition at the three-day Carifta Trials as both produced personal best times to capture the Under-20 100 metres titles at the National Stadium.
It was Douglas who set the stage with an impressive 11.06 seconds, bettering her previous best of 11.26 seconds to blow away the field. Natriece East of Wolmer’s was second in 11.53 while Reneica Edwards of Edwin Allen finished third in 11.58.
Douglas, the defending Carifta champion, was very emotional after posting her personal best.
“I feel like crying, I can’t believe I ran that fast. I am very happy and big up to coach Garth Smythe and God.”
After losing out earlier this season to Edwin Allen High’s Alexxe Henry, she said she is ready for redemption.
“This good win has put me in good stead for Champs (ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships) and I am very motivated and ready to redeem myself against Henry,” she said.
The boys’ finals was a very close and exciting affair and Reid prevailed in the end to clock a new lifetime best of 10.16. He turned back Sanjaye Seymore of William Knibb who was second in 10.20 and Kingston College’s Christopher Young who finished third in 10.22.
I was very confident
Reid was very pleased with the win but was not surprised by the fast time.
“I was very confident about winning and getting a personal best as I have put in some hard work this season, and big up to my coach David Riley,” said Reid.
Earlier in Under-17 action, Rihanna Scott of Ferncourt High and Kai Kelly of Jamaica College were crowned champions.
Scott had to pull out all the stops to deny Alpha Academy’s Azaria Harris, winning in 11.68. Harris was second in 11.69 while Edwin Allen’s Daniela Clarke was third in 11.86.
Running with a positive wind of 2.3 metres per second, the fast-finishing Kelly won the boys’ title in 10.44 ahead of the Calabar High duo of Joshua Ricketts (10.49) and Javarne Clayton (10.51).
Yesterday also saw finals in the 1500 metres and preliminary rounds in all 400 metres events.
In the Under-17 girls’ 1500m, Osheana Cummins of Hydel High was in top form. The defending Carifta champion, who is not likely to compete at Champs this year, clocked a fast 4:38.26 for the win. Abigail Clue of Long Island High was second in 4:50.20, with Edwin Allen’s Romean Gray third in 4:52.64.
Kevongaye Fowler of Edwin Allen ruled supreme in the Under-20 girls’ event, winning in 4:39.82. Hydel’s Daliah Fairweather was second in 4:40.33, while Alphansus Davis High’s Alijate Reynolds took third in 4:43.15.
Jevaughn Tomlin of Bellefield won the boys’ Under-17 event in 4:09.21 ahead of Fejzun Grey of St Elizabeth Technical (4:09.32) and Bevin Daley of Jamaica College (4:10.46).
Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen won the Under-20 event in 4:00.98. Shemar Green of Jamaica College (4:01.76) and Riquelme Johnson of Bellefield High (4:04.26) were second and third respectively.
In field events, Hydel’s Zavian Bernard led the way in the Under-20 girls’ long jump, winning with a leap of 5.92m ahead of Rajaun Pryce of Alpha (5.65m) and Akaylee Brown of Edwin Allen (5.73m).
Competing unattached, Shamanda Wilmot won the boys’ Under-17 shot put with a heave of 13.95m ahead of Z. Plummer of Excelsior, who was second with 11.45m.
Abel Deborah of the University of Minnesota won the girls’ Under-20 shot put with 14.38m, as Marla Kay Lampart of Clarendon College took second with 13.50m and Edwin Allen’s Dionnah Shaw was third with 12.78m.
The meet will continue today at 11 a.m. with the preliminary rounds of the Under-20 800m for girls and close with the finals of the Under-20 boys’ 400m.
