KC’s Nkrumie in top form at Champs

Kingston College's Bouwahjgie Nkrumie is in top form going into today's semi-finals of the Class One boys 100 metres at the 2023 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

On yesterday's opening day of the prestigious meet at the National Stadium, Nkrumie cruised to 10.51 seconds to win his heats,the fastest time in the preliminaries. Nkrumie, the national junior record holder at 10.02, is strongly tipped to be the first schoolboy to go under 10 seconds at the championships when the final is run today. He could be strongly challenged by Jaiden Reid of Jamaica College who won his heat in 10.52, Junior Harris of Camperdown High with 10.56, Javorne Dunkley of St Elizabeth Technical (10.59) and Herbert Morrison High's Deandre Daley with 10.65.

In the Class Two boys' 100m, Nicardo Clarke of Kingston College was the fastest qualifier for the semi-finals. He won his heat in 10.95 seconds. Tavaine Stewart of Herbert Morrison crossed the line in his heat in 11.00 while Johan-Ramaldo Smythe of Muschett High won his heat in 11.02.

In the Class Two 1500 metres, Kingston College's Kenyan runner Nahashon Ruto leads all qualifiers following his easy 4:14:85 clocking. He will have his teammate Brian Kiprop (4:18.05) and the lurking Yoshane Bowen, the defending champion, to contend with as the Maggotty High representative was also a winner on opening day with his composed 4:18:62.

Uroy Ryan of Jamaica College with 7.35 metres was the leading qualifier in the Class One long jump. Aldaine Angus of Calabar High had a best of 7.20m while Demario Prince St Jago High qualified for the final with 7.13m.

Deandre Gayle of Jamaica College clocked 53.13 to advance to the final of the Class Two boys 400m hurdles with the fastest time. Also advancing was Requel Reid of Calabar High (53.21), Taj-Oneil Gordon of Kingston College with 54.49 and Jordan Taylor (Kingston College) with 54.16.

Tyrece Hyman of Edwin Allen High (51.26) topped all qualifiers for the final of the Class One boys 400m hurdles. The other top qualifiers were St Elizabeth Technical's Shamer Blake (51.63), race favourite Antonio Forbes of Kingston College with 52.80 and Daneil Wright of Excelsior High, 52.08.

Kingston College had the top two qualifiers for the final of the 2000 metres steeplechase. Ainsley Campbell clocked six minutes 18.80 seconds to win his heat, while his teammate Darnel Edwards won his heat in 6:23.76. Adriano Brown of Calabar High was second to Campbell in heat one in 6:23.56.