Once again, the sprints generated more excitement on Thursday’s 3rd day of Champs 2017.
Kingston College (KC) fans, however, were thrilled with the 2,000m steeplechase 1-2 finish.
Shane Buchanan, 6: 00.19secs won ahead of his teammate Kristof Darby 6:01.93secs.
However, what matters most to most fans, especially KC, the points standings have them out front with 74 points, 38 more than Calabar, 36, Jamaica College (JC), 32, Petersfield 31 and St. Jago 27.
On the girls’ side, Edwin Allen found their way atop with 40 points, seven more than Hydel 33, Excelsior 30, St. Jago 27 and Holmwood 26.
Again, fans can’t wait to see the outcome of some of the sprint finals, among them, Class 1 boys’ 200m, Class 1 boys’ 100m, Class 4 girls’ 200m, Class 3 girls 100m and 200m.
Calabar’s Christopher Taylor strolled to 20.85 to top semi-final 1 of the Class 1 boys’ 200m, also, just as easy, was Jhevaughn Matherson, in the following heat, as he crossed the line in 20.66. Both are expected to set-up Champs 2017 best final, but the questions – who will win and will Usain Bolt’s 20.25secs 2003 record survive?
Also on Thursday, the performance of the day, according to many, was 12-year-old Brianna Lyston, who extended herself to a stunning 23.46secs run. But while her day one record of 24.00 stood, because of the 2.4m/s illegal wind, the writing is on the wall for something special in Saturday’s final.
Kevona Davis, Edwin Allen’s favourite for Class 3 girls’ 200m, was also easy in 23.74, easing down some 20 metres from the line. Joanne Reid of St. Jago was faster, but her 23.66secs was wind aided, 2.3m/s and she ran closer to the line.
The semi-final performances of STETHS’s Sachin Dennis 20.89 and Edwin Allen’s Jevaughn Powell 21.21 suggested that Taylor’s 2016 record of 20.80 is under serious threat.
The 100m semi-finals and finals are set for Friday and these are also expected to be very hot.
Can Calabar’s duo of Michael Stephens and Tyreke Wilson, challenge Matherson? All breezed through their heats on Thursday, Matherson in 10.76, Wilson 10.77 and Stephens 10.82.
The Class 2 boys’ event with Dennis, 10.97, Michali Everett of JC, 10.73 and Wolmer’s Xavier Nairne, 10.91 will also be hot, so too the Class 3 girls’ showdown with Davis, 11.74 and Sashieka Steele of Holmwood, 12.11.
Excelsior’s 14-year-old Shantae Foreman cleared 1.79m to set a new Champs record in the Class 3 girls’ high jump.
Roje Stona, St. Jago, threw 61.85m to beat Kevin Nedrick, Petersfield, 57.48m for the Class 1 boys’ discus title.
In other event finals, Kay-lagay Clarke of St. Jago won the Class 4 girls’ long jump title with 5.33m; KC’s Scott McLeod went over 1.84m to take the Class 3 high jump gold medal; and Annia Ashley of Edwin Allen nade it to 5.92m for the Class 2 girls’ long jump.
