Three records on Day 3 - 100 metres showdowns today

The action on today's fourth day of competition at the 2019 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships is expected to be hot.

Twenty-five finals are down to be contested, including the 100 metres showdowns in all classes, the 1500 metres, 400m hurdles and triple jump for Class One boys. The champions could well be decided today as the top teams will not only be hunting vital points but to also qualify individuals and teams for tomorrow's grand final day.

The race to watch is the boys Class One 100 metres where Calabar's Michael Stephens and his teammate, new boy Oblique Seville, are set to have a fierce battle. Three records were broken yesterday, two in the field and one on the track as defending champions Edwin Allen took over the lead in the girls' section with 43 points, 13 ahead of early leaders Rusea's High on 30. Closing out the top five are Hydel 20, Excelsior High and Vere Technical on 19 each.

Kingston College (KC) are on top in the boys' section with 64 points. They are followed by defending champions Calabar on 63, Jamaica College 40, and Wolmer's Boys 16.

Impressive heave

Leading the record-breakers yesterday was KC's Ralford Mullings in the Class Two boys shot put. Mullings produced an impressive heave of 19.99 metres to win the event and in the process erased the 18.18m mark set by former Cornwall College athlete Warren Barrett Jr. Calabar earned valuable points as Kobe Lawrence with 17.61m and Denz Simmonds, 16.96m, taking second and third, respectively. Immaculate Conception High's Jounee Armstrong , the favourite for the Class Four long jump, did not disappoint. She had a good leap of 5.64m to to improve on the 5.52 mark, former St Elizabeth Technical athlete Opal James set in 2008. Santea Wilson of Edwin Allen was second with 5.12m, just ahead Hydel's Rohana Sudlow with 5.11m.

The third record came in the preliminary round of the Class Three boys 100m. Christopher Scott, the young JC star, continued his hot form to stop the clock at 10.69 seconds. His time broke the one year old record of 10.79 by KC's Nkrumie Bouwahjgie.

Calabar's Kai Chang improved on his 2018 second- place finish in the Class One boys discus after winning the event in a season's best 61.93m.

"It feels good that I got the win for Calabar, but I'm kind of disappointed in my performance, as it pertains to the distance," he told STAR Sports. "That's really not my best and based on the weather conditions, they really weren't to my favour. But everything happens for a reason, I guess. I really wanted Traves Smikle's record."

Chang said slippery conditions in the ring, from prolonged rainfall throughout the day, affected him significantly.

"The athletes, myself included, had to be continuously wiping our feet on the circle and the material that we had got wet, so it was just one big ball of frustration, but I got the win and I'm thankful."

Vere Technical's Annika McDonald won the Class Three high jump with a leap of 1.74m. Torian Caven, the 2018 Class Four champion, was second, with 1.74m. Malaika Cunningham of Wolmer's Girls finished third with 1.71m.

Excelsior High's Shantae Foreman captured the Class Two long jump with a winning leap of 6.14m. Ackelia Smith (6.04m) of Edwin Alken was second, while Rusea's Nia Robinson ended third with 5.94m

Big statements

KC's Anthony Willis cleared 1.81m to take the Class Three boys high jump. Michael Curriah of Jamaica College and Calabar's Ewan Lawrence finished second and third, respectively, after both cleared 1.78m.

Earlier Calabar's duo of Oblique Seville and Michael Stephens made big statements in the preliminary round of the Class One boys 100m and appear set to give their school maximum points in the event. Seville looked quite relaxed in winning his heat in 10.32 seconds, the round's fastest time. Stephens won his heat in 10.44. Next best were Conroy Jones of STETHS and Ryiem Robertson of JC who both won their heats in 10.52.

In Class Two, St Jago High's Vashaun Vascianna was the quickest after posting 10.61. Just behind is the favourite Terrique Stennett of KC who crossed the line in 10.64.

Defending Class Two girls' champion, Kevona Davis of Edwin Allen, won her heat in 11.78. Krystal Sloley of Campion College with 11.81, Brandy Hall of Edwin Allen 11.89, and Excelsior's Ackera Nugent, 11.92, were next best.

Hydel High Alana Reid led all qualifiers in Class Three with 11.80. Edwin Allen's Tia Clayton (11.89), Mickayla Gardener of Wolmer's 12.08, Kerrica Hill of Hydel, 12.12, also advanced. St Jago High's Tamara Bailey was fastest in Class Four after winning her heat in 12.42. Holy Childhood's Kysha Scott, 12.44, St Catherine's Kaycian Johnson 12.50 and Camio White of Holmwood with 12.51 were next best qualifiers.

Boys (top 10)Kingston College 64Calabar 63Jamaica College 40Wolmer's Boys 16Petersfield 14Edwin Allen High 14St Jago High 13Bellefield 10Rusea's High 8St Elizabeth Technical 7 Girls (top 10)Edwin Allen High 43 Rusea's High 30 Hydel High 20 Excelsior High 19 Vere Technical 19 Holmwood Tech 18Immaculate 14Wolmer's Girls 13St. Jago High 13 St Elizabeth Tech 9