KINGSTON — Chantz Sawyers held off a fast-finishing Dashawn Morris to win the U20 boys 400m title on the fourth a final day of the 2018 Jamaica National Senior and Junior Championships on Sunday.
Sawyers of the University of Florida led from start to finish to hold off Morris of Kingston College.
Running out of lane 8 after qualifying with a time of 47.77, Sawyers went out strongly to build a lead and then held his form over the final 60m to stop the clock at 45.76 seconds for first place.
Morris, who owns the fastest time as junior this season, at 45.09, closed fast, but ran out of real estate and had to settle for second place in 45.97.
Third place went to Shemar Chambers of Calabar in 46.39, while Malik Smith took fourth in 46.68 and Calabar’s Anthony Carpenter fifth in 47.52.
The U18 boys’ race was won by Bovel Mcpherson of Holmwood in 47.63 with Romario Taylor of Petersfield getting second from lane 8 in 47.96 and third went to Calabar’s Evaldo Whitehorne, who faded badly to 48.60.
Elsewhere, the U20 girls’ race went to Shaquena Foote of Petersfield in 54.17 ahead of Shalysa Wray (55.29) of St. Jago, while the U18 equivalent went to Calisha Taylor of Holmwood in 54.66.
