Records begin to fall

KINGSTON COLLEGE’S Julius Itubo smashed one of two records to fall on the second day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) on at the National Stadium yesterday.

The second record of the day came from the Class 3 Boys’ 100 metres, where Jamaica College’s Kai Kelly clocked 10.60 second to win, with the favourite, Jevaney Findlay of St Jago High, finishing second in 10.67, which would have also broken former Jamaica College athlete Christopher Scott’s 2019 record of 10.69. Rajaun Romelly of St Jago was third in 10.87.

Itubo, after giving a big hint in the preliminary round of the Boys’ Class 3 1500 metres on Tuesday, returned yesterday to stamp his authority on the event. He produced a stunning 4:05.15 to shatter the five-year-old record of 4:12.50 set by Tavaughn Martin in 2019, marking the first record of Champs to fall.

The Nigerian athlete separated himself from the pack early and ran away with the victory. Jevaughn Tomlin of Bellefield took second in 4:18.30, while Dejaun Gray of St Elizabeth Technical secured third in 4:23.68.

A major upset unfolded in the Boys’ Class 1 1500m, where defending champion Brian Kiprop of Kingston College put the brakes on the previously unbeaten Ryan Achau of St Jago.

Achau, who had been dominating middle- and long-distance events all season, paid the price for going out too fast in the early stages of the race. Kiprop, showing no panic, kept his cool and sprinted past Achau in the final 100 metres to win in 3:55.24. Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen finished second in 3:56.12, with Raheem Palmer of Alphansus Davis taking third in 3:58.42. Achau finished fourth in a disappointing 4:00.01.

In the Girls’ Class 3 1500m, Edwin Allen’s Denique Palmer won in 4:44.44, ahead of Alexia Palmer of Sydney Pagan Academy (4:46.89) and Shameika Dennis of STETHS, who finished third in 4:47.89.

Alikay Reynolds of Alphansus Davis High dominated Class 2, winning in 4:41.29, followed by Jovi Rose of Holmwood (4:42.71) and Rihanna Morgan of Hydel (4:43.81).

Taiefa Gowe of Hydel pulled off an upset in the Class 1 final, winning in 4:37.34 ahead of pre-race favourite Cindy Rose of Holmwood (4:38.22) and Ashara Frater of Vere, who was third in 4:38.56.

In the first final of the day, Kingston College’s Amani Phillips captured the Boys’ Class 2 Long Jump with a winning distance of 7.15 metres. Rodeeki Walters of St Elizabeth Technical finished second with 7.09, and Michael Graham of Excelsior took third with 7.02.

Favourite Jamelia Young of Clarendon College dominated the Girls’ Class 2 Shot Put with a throw of 13.65 metres. Bethany Thomas of Wolmer’s Girls’ School was second with 13.19, and Jada Francis of Immaculate Conception secured third with 13.03.

In the Boys’ Class 1 100 metres, things went according to script - almost.

With 50 metres to go, Gary Card of Wolmer’s Boys’ School, who had run 10.06 in a semi-final earlier, seemed to be in pain, grimacing and almost limping through the line in 10.28 seconds.

Card’s heroics were all the more noticeable as St George’s College’s Tyreece Foreman put him under pressure to come through in 10.29. The Wolmerian crumbled to the floor almost immediately after the line, grabbing his right hamstring. Malike Nugent of Excelsior was third in 10.35.

Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia High also followed the script in Class One, rocketing from the blocks before pulling away to clock a fast 11.08, leaving Holmwood Technical’s Doniellia Lewis, who ran a creditable 11.43, in her wake.

In the Boys’ Class 2 100m, Graham of Excelsior lived up to his favourite tag, kinesio tape on the knee and all. Graham added gold to his long jump bronze yesterday, clocking 10.46 to get the better of Holwood’s Jadon Colins, 10.54, and Calabar’s Byron Walker, 10.65.

Shanoya Douglas of Muschett High dominated the Girls’ Class 2 100m with a time of 11.32 seconds, and Natrece East of Wolmer’s secured second in 11.59.