Four-way battle looms in Girls’ Class One 100m hurdles

A lot of fireworks are expected in the Girls' Class One 100 metres hurdles at next week's ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships (Champs).

It is shaping up to be a four-way battle among top contenders, Hydel High's Jody-Ann Daley, Edwin Allen High's Santae Wilson, St Jago High's Bryanna Davidson, and Holmwood Technical's Kiara Meikle.

All four athletes have shown tremendous form this season, with Daley leading the pack at 13.42 seconds, followed closely by Wilson (13.44), Davidson (13.45), and Meikle (13.48). With such close times the title could go to any one of these runners.

They last met at the Central Athletics Championships, where Daley, Meikle, and Wilson were locked in an intense battle at the mid-stage. However, Wilson fell at the sixth hurdle, allowing Daley to secure victory in 13.42s. Meikle finished second in 13.48 while Davidson took third in 13.84.

Last year, Meikle finished second behind Hydel's Shania Myers in a personal best 13.41. She will be aiming to go one place better this time, but Daley, in her first year in Class One, will be determined to keep the title at the Ferry-based institution.

Wilson, who finished fifth in her semi-final last year, has made remarkable progress this season. She has improved from a personal best of 14.45 to 13.44 which she clocked while winning at the G.C. Foster Classic. With continued improvement in every race, she could steal the show.

Davidson is a proven performer on big occasions. She stunned the overwhelming favourite, Tiana Marshall of Wolmer's Girls, to win the Class Two title last year in a swift 13.18. At the recent Carifta Trials, she once again rose to the occasion, pushing the unbeaten Marshall all the way to the line and finishing second in the Under-20 event with 13.45. Though in her first year in Class One, she certainly has the pedigree to go all the way.

Daley, who remains unbeaten this season, will start as the slight favourite, but in a race of this calibre, anything can happen. An intriguing and epic contest is expected, and it might take a sub-13.3-second performance to secure victory here. - R.G.