Expect fireworks in today’s 100m at Champs

Track and field fans can look forward to some exciting battles in today's semi-finals and finals of the 100 metres, following yesterday's first-round action on the opening day of the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) at the National Stadium.

With questions surrounding their participation ahead of the championships due to injury concerns, the two fastest schoolboys this season, Hector Benjamin of Jamaica College and Deandre Daley of Herbert Morrison Technical, reported for the heats of the Class One boys 100 metres and both looked sharp, giving fans hope of something special today.

Daley clocked 10.75 seconds to win his heat easily to advance as the sixth fastest qualifier for the semi-finals. Benjamin also looked quite relaxed in clocking 10.81 to be the eighth fastest as both showed that they have a lot in the tank. The fastest semi-final qualifier was Damor Miller of Excelsior High who won his heat in 10.60. Next fastest was Omarion Barrett of Steer Town Academy with 10.64.

Muschettt High's Johan Ramaldo Smythe looked supreme in the Class Two and emerged the fastest qualifier in the class after clocking 10.65 to win his heat. Tavine Stewart of Herbert Morrison Technical who defeated Smythe at the Western Athletics Championships is the second fastest qualifier with 10.91 and Kingston College's Nyrone Wade was next with 10.95.

Mario Ross of Wolmer's Boys, the event leader in Class Three coming into the championship, won his heat in 11.36 to be the fastest qualifier. Naethan Bryan of St George's College (11.39) is the second fastest.

The Class Two girls 100m could produce a very fast time. Hot favourite, Edwin Allen High's Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, looked awesome as she jogged to victory in her heat in 12.15. Her main challenger, Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia High, was initially disqualified for false-starting but was later reinstated after an appeal. Dockery clocked 11.90 to register the fastest time in the heats after she ran under protest after lodging her appeal.

It should be close going in the Class One 100m where Edwin Allen's Trezeguet Taylor is the leader after clocking 11.87. Sprint hurdler Habiba Harris of St Elizabeth Technical looked good in winning her heat in 11.89 while the likes of Titchfield's Chevaun Grant (11.93) and Hydel's Alliah Baker (11.94) will make this one a very interesting affair.

Despite clocking 12.42 for fifth overall in Class Three Natrece East of Wolmer's Girls will definitely step up the pace today as she looks to improve on her season's best 11.67. Adora Campbell of St Jago is the leader here with 12.20, ahead of Kaleisha Bell of St Mary High (12 .25) while Edwin Allen's Kerelle Etienne, the seventh fastest qualifier with 12.65, is also expected to run much faster today.

Pre-meet favourite, Ferncourt High's Rihanna Scott, and Hydel High's Teixiera Johnson, look set to have a close battle after their preliminary-round wins in Class Four. Johnson was the fastest qualifier with 12.36 in a negative 1.6 metres per second (mps) wind. Scott clocked 12.52 to be the third fastest qualifier, while Edwin Allen's Tashana Godfrey could make things very interesting after winning her heat in 12.46 in a negative wind (2.0 mps).