By KImberly Allen, TrackAlerts.com writer
Christopher Taylor of Calabar, on the first day of the 2016 ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, set the record-breaking trend.
The World Youth champion, easily demolished the Class 2 Boys’ 400M record, which was set by Jamaica College's Devaughn Baker, back in 2013. Baker's record of 46.64s went, as Taylor easily cruised over the line in a time of 46.33s, to qualify for his semi-finals to be held on Thursday.
“The plan was to break the record and take it out of the way (from the heats) and to get all the pressure out of the way,” was his post race comment.
In the female equivalent, Stacey Ann Williams of STETHS, who is having a good season, easily placed herself at the top of the qualifiers’ table with a time of 55.58s. Sanique Walker of Vere Technical was second overall with a time of 56.03s.
Junelle Bromfield of STETHS came and easily made her mark, as she was the fastest qualifier for the Girls’ Class 1 400M semi finals with a time of 53.63s. Ashley Williams of Holmwood, who also looked good throughout the season, was also easy in taking her heat in 55.07s. Her time is the 4th fastest and the battle between these two will continue on Thursday afternoon.
Kingston College's (KC) star athlete, Akeem Bloomfield, went out and did what he had to do easily, to qualify for the next round on Thursday. His time of 48.36s was the 4th fastest time overall. Rogay Granston of Holmwood Technical won heat 4 in 47.51s and was the fastest qualifier.
For the Girls’ 400M Class 3, Shonnon Brown (Camperdown High) and Tatten Thaw (Hydel High) were at the top of the table for the day's qualifiers with times 56.40s and 56.67s respectively.
On the Boys’ side, Antonio Watson of Petersfield High topped the qualifiers table with his time of 51.63s. Shanthamoi Brown of Kingston College, winner of heat 2, was second overall with 52.50s.
Patreece Clarke of Edwin Allen managed to be at the top of the Class 4 Girls’ 70mH with her time of 10.74s. For the Girls Class 3 80mH, the leader going to the semis, was Vere Technical's Britany Anderson with a time of 11.43s. Winsome Harris of STETHS from heat 3 was second overall in 11.48s.
Shanette Allison of Holmwod will lead the pack for the Girls’ Class 2 100mH for the semi finals. Allison, who ran out of heat 1, managed to clock a time of 13.59s. Manchester's Sidney Marshall, from heat 2, placed second overall with her time of 13.86s.
The athletes in the field also lived up to expectations. Kimone Shaw of St. Jago with a leap of 5.42m, the 5th best preliminary jump, earned a spot in the Class 2 Girls’ long jump final. Annia Ashley of Edwin Allen with 5.68m to qualify, was the top jump of the day with Monief Heslop of Camperdown High, second overall with a jump of 5.54m.
On the Boys’ side, Joel Morgan of Excelsior High leaped to first overall with a jump of 6.82m. Closely behind him, was Safin Wills of Jamaica College with a leap of 6.81m.
Obrian Wasome of Jamaica College, made a big leap of 7.74m – 3.2m/s wind – to comfortably qualify for the final of the Boys’ Class 1 Long Jump and sit at the top of the qualifiers table.
Over in the Boys Javelin Open, Delarno Beckford of Happy Grove High, was at the top of his qualifiers table with his throw of 56.94m.
Petersfield's Kevin Nedrick’s 53.68m best throw managed to put him at second amongst the qualifiers.
The Girls’ Class 1 High Jumpers were also in contention and at the end; six of them cleared the qualifying mark of 1.60m. They were Britny Kerr (Hydel), Athaliah Boyd (St. Jago), Tissanna Hickling (St. Jago), Samara Spencer ( Hydel High), Gabriel Foster (Alpha) and Colistia Baker (Petersfield High)
