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No stopping St Jago’s Achua
January 20, 2025
There seems to be no slowing down for St Jago High's middle and long-distance runner Ryan Achua. The Kenyan delivered another fantastic performance last Saturday at the McKenley/Wint Classics at Calabar High School, clocking an impressive 3:54.51 minutes to win the Class One boys' 1500 metres.
Achua, who had already stamped his authority on the road this season with dominant performances in 5K and 10K events, showed no signs of easing up. He added to his track successes in the 5000m and 800m with Saturday's commanding victory. He left his competitors far behind, as second-place finisher Justin Webb of Calabar High clocked 4:19.99. Calabar High's Dijhantan Lewis secured third place in 4:20.10.
Achua is set to compete again this Saturday in the 800 metres at the Grace Jackson meeting at the National Stadium. He will aim to surpass his season best 1:54.91, which he achieved at the JAAA Puma Fuller Anderson Development meet at GC Foster College.
SERIOUS CONTENDERS
Meanwhile, hosts Calabar continued their strong form this season. The Red Hills Road-based institution, which placed third at last year's ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships, are proving they will be serious contenders for the Mortimer Geddes Trophy come March 25-29.
Their standout performer, Shaquane Gordon, led the charge in Class One, clocking 10.60 to win his heat and finish first overall in the 100 metres. Romario Hines of Munro College clocked the same time, 10.60, for second place, and Zachary Wallace of Maggotty High was third in 10.61.
Gordon also excelled in the Class One 110m hurdles, winning his heat in 14.40 seconds. However, he was second overall behind Kingston College's (KC) Daniel Clarke, who clocked 14.16 seconds. Calabar's Dijon Swaine finished third in 14.44.
Calabar's Javane Clayton won the Class Three 100m in 11.17. In Class Two, Byron Walker, also of Calabar, claimed victory with 10.65, followed by teammate Ched Brown in 10.85, and Jamaica College's Malique Dennis in 10.90 seconds.
The Red Hills Road boys also secured the Class Three 100m hurdles, as Ronaldinho Barrett clocked 13.65 to finish ahead of KC's Dean Dawkins (13.91 seconds) and St Elizabeth Technical's Deshawn Johnson, 14.28.
FEMALE STANDOUTS
Among the females, two standout athletes expected to dominate their events at Champs delivered impressive performances.
Shanoya Douglas of Muschett High, the World Under-20 200m bronze medallist, claimed her second 100 metres victory of the season with a swift 11.48 seconds in Class Two. Wolmer's Girls' Tiana Marshall also dipped below 12 seconds to finish second in 11.91, while her teammate Kaysian Sewell was third in 12.15.
Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia High, in her first year in Class One, secured her second 400 metres win of the season, clocking 55.89 seconds. Sashashunta Hemmings of Hydel High was second in 56.28, and Sabrina McDonald of Convent of Mercy, Alpha, placed third in 58.33.
The Michael Carr-coached Wolmer's Girls sent a strong message to their rivals in the sprint hurdles, with three impressive wins across the classes.
Odaina Creary dominated the Class Four 70m hurdles in 10.87, finishing ahead of Hydel's Amelia Hacker (10.92) and Azeliha Allen of St Andrew High (11.06).
In the Class Three 80m hurdles, Jada Harris triumphed in 11.91, followed by Seona Wilson of Alpha (12.18) and Arrian Nelson of Hydel (12.50).
Wolmer's capped a one-two finish in the Class Two 100m hurdles. Tiana Marshall blitzed to victory in 13.90, with Akeelah Bell second in 14.17. Alpha's Rayana Pryce secured third in 14.28.
