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Fierce battle expected in Class One girls’ 100m
March 29, 2023
With the Class One girls' 100 metres final billed as one of the most anticipated events at the 2023 ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys And Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs), the top contenders did their part after comfortable first-round performances.
Yesterday's opening day of Champs at the National Stadium saw Edwin Allen High's Serena Cole, Petersfield High's Alexis James, as well as Hydel High's Alana Reid secure their spots in today's semi-finals.
Cole breezed through her first-round heat in 11.57 seconds, the fastest time among the semi-finalists. Alexis James of Petersfield High had the second fastest time clocking 11.74 to win her heat while Alana Reid won her heat in 11.81 which was the fourth fastest time among the semi-finalists. Cole's teammate, Toni-Ann Forbes had the third fastest time clocking 11.80. Cole entered Champs with the two fastest times of the season after she clocked 11.18 and 11.22 at the Carifta Trials earlier this month. James and Reid both clocked 11.24, sharing the third-fastest time this season.
Hydel's Shemonique Hazel has the fastest time of 12.17 entering the semi-finals of the Class Two 100m with St Catherine's Kacycian Johnson (12.19) and Doniellia Lewis (12.20) being the other top qualifiers.
In Class Three Edwin Allen's Theianna Lee Terrelonge (12.10) leads all qualifiers with Poshanna-Lee Blake of St Jago (12.47 and Vere Technical's Tiana Oliver (12.53) the other top standouts. Class Four is led by Holmwood Technical's Maria Baker who clocked 12.47, the fastest time in qualifying. Mount Alvernia's Giana Murray (12.62) and Naje Brown of Immaculate Conception (12.65) were the other top qualifiers.
In the 400m hurdles open for girls, Edwin Allen's Tonyan Beckford goes into the final with the fastest time in the field clocking 57.90 to edge defending champion Oneika McAnnuff (58.24 in their first-round heat. McAnnuff enters the final with the second fastest time. Annalice Brady of Holmwood Technical (59.50) has the third fastest time.
It was in the field that the fireworks began, as the Class One girls' discus record was broken twice within minutes in the preliminary rounds.. St Jago's Abigail Martin's effort of 55.19m set the new mark in her section, minutes after Holmwood Cedricka Williams had earlier produced an effort of 53.22m, which had previously broken the six-year record set by Edwin Allen's Fiona Richards (53.04m).
Hydel's Natassia Burrell qualified for the Class Two shot put final after throwing 14.17m in the preliminaries. Edwin Allen's Dionjah Shaw (14.03m) and Able Mills of St Catherine High (13.88m) were the other top qualifiers.
St Jago's Jade-Ann Dawkins set the pace in the Class Two girls' long jump, qualifying with a distance of 6.08m with St Catherine High's Rohanna Sudlow having the second longest distance with 5.65m and Shelley-Ann Taylor of Excelsior High having the third best effort with 5.60m.
