Top high school athletes stepped up a notch at last Saturday’s 27th staging of the Youngster Goldsmith Classics inside the National Stadium, sending out strong messages ahead of next month’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).
On a day where athletes competing in the 100 metres and sprint hurdles benefitted significantly from heavy tailwinds which lasted throughout the meet, Edwin Allen High’s class-one athlete Kelly Ann Carr was the star performer among the girls, while Kingston College’s Jason Pitter shone among the boys in class two. Both secured double wins on the day.
Carr started the meet on a positive note with a dominant victory in her pet event. She raced to a fast 58.81 seconds, the only sub-60-seconds performance in the event this season, to produce the fastest time overall. Her teammate Maria Crosfield was second overall after winning her heat in 1:01.94, while Holmwood Technical’s Maya Oakley finished third in 1:03.62.
Carr was even more impressive in the class-one 400m, clocking 53.76 seconds. She turned back Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright (54.80), who had finished second at ‘Champs’ last year while relegating Carr to third. Vere Technical’s Jesena Williams finished third in 56.16.
Holmwood Technical secured a podium sweep in the class two 400m, with Anastasia Hall winning in 55.82 ahead of Maddison Campbell (57.36) and Tracy Ann Evans (57.38).
Edwin Allen girls continued their dominance this season in the 100m, winning in all classes. Alexxe Henry led the charge in class one, winning in 11.24 seconds ahead of teammate Renecia Edwards (11.50) and Immaculate’s Sheviann Shim (11.54).
Karielle Etienne captured class two in 11.31, ahead of Shayan Smith of St Mary High (11.77) and Trecia Grant of St Jago (11.86).
They also had podium finishes in classes three and Four. In class four, Monique Bogle won in 11.94 ahead of Niesha Campbell (12.09) and Shantwae Green (12.25). Danelia clarke was best in class three in 11.72, ahead of Andrianna Pine (11.99) and Tashana Godfrey (12.03).
Godfrey, the defending class three 80m hurdles champion at Champs, was an impressive winner in that event, clocking 10.72 ahead of St Jago’s Shanice Williams (11.11) and Wolmer’s Girls’ Odaine Creary (11.12).
Wolmer’s won both classes one and two 100m hurdles. Tiana Marshall took class one in 13.18 seconds ahead of Rajaune Pryce of Alpha (13.38) and Kyra Loye Kelly of Immaculate (13.89). Ackelia Bell captured class two in 13.08 with Macalia Gordon of Alpha second in 13.53 and Holmwood’s Kayla Russell, third in 13.55.
DOUBLE FOR KC’S PITTER
Kingston College’s (KC) Jason Pitter showed his readiness to defend his class two 400m title at Champs next month with two big wins. He first stopped the clock at 48.73 seconds to win the one-lap event ahead of Nicholas Jones of Lacovia High (49.58) and Deandre Myers of Wolmer’s Boys’ (49.90).
He returned later to capture the class two invitational 200m in 21.36, ahead of Calabar High’s duo Diwayne Sharpe (21.68) and Javane Clayton (21.79).
Former KC hurdler Antonio Forbes, competing for Titans Track Club, won the 400m hurdles open in 51.37 seconds. Hydel’s Robert Miller was second in 51.74, with KC’s Jahvarie Tyrell third in 52.58.
Jaedon Campbell of Excelsior High posted a personal best 52.81 to win the class two 400m hurdles, ahead of Jamaica College’s (JC) Gregory Williams (54.70) and Calabar’s Kemarly Fletcher (55.53).
Marquise Page of St Jago won the class two 110m hurdles in a close finish, clocking 13.14 seconds ahead of Calabar’s Divandrae Matthews (13.17) and Wolmer’s Mark Allen (13.63).
KC’s Taj Oneil Gordon captured the class one 110m hurdles in 13.60 ahead of JC’s Chrisan Williams (13.74). Calabar’s Dijuan Swaine was third in 13.76.
JC swept the top three spots in the 2000m steeplechase. Evan Tetteh won in 6:08.68 ahead of Dominic Amponsah (6:23.39) and Tyrone Lawson (6:30.59).
Edwin Allen’s Moses Johnson (4:21.29) won the class one 1500m ahead of KC’s Chris Wanyoikei Wanjiku (4:24.75) and Stephen Muturi (4:27.73).
