Wi-owner
Raymond Graham, Star Writer
Left: Nikita Tracey. Right: Wolmer's Boys School's Dwayne Extol (left), clears a hurdle on his way to victory in heat three of the Boys 400m Hurdles Open at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships at the National Stadium yesterday. - Ian Allen
Yesterday's opening day of competition of the 100th Issa/GraceKennedy-sponsored Boys and Girls Athletics Championships was filled with thrills, spills and excitement, but several of the top teams suffered casualties.
Two records were broken in the Class One discuss for both boys and girls, as St Hughs' Candicea Bernard and Calabar's Chad Wright were in impressive form.
In his first effort, the first throw of the championship in the preliminary round of the boys event, Wright erased his teammate's Travis Smikle's record of 51.45 metres, as he produced a new mark of 52.16 metres.
did not disappoint
In the girls' event the overwhelming favourite did not disappoint as she destroyed former Holmwood Technical standout Salcia Slack's mark of 45.13 metres, set two years ago, with a new mark of 47.76 metres. Vere Technical's Vanessa Levy, who finished second, also exceeded the old record, with a throw of 45.85 metres, with Edwin Allen's Keneisha Stewart taking the bronze with 37.97 metres.
The other finals for females saw Steths' Rochelle Farquharson maintaining her excellent form, jumping into a positive 2.2 m/s wind, she had a leap of 13.20 metres.
It was a bonus for Wolmer's Girls, as they took the next two medals with Samantha Francis leaping 12.68 metres taking silver, ahead of Jeanell Facey who jumped 12.50 metres.
The other final contested on the opening day saw Wolmer's taking a quinella in the boys Class One long jump. Kamal Fuller won the event with a leap of 7.45 metres, with his teammate Ramone Bailey second with 7.38 metres. Damon McLean of Campion took the bronze with a leap of 7.09 metres.
leaders
Wolmer's have assumed the early lead after one final with 16 points, they are followed by Campion (6) Calabar 5), St Georges' College (4) Kingston College (3) Old Harbour (2) and Morant Bay (1).
In the girls section, former champions Vere Technical following the completion of two finals, are on 16 points, followed by Wolmer's (13), St Hughs (9), Holmwood Technical (9), STETHS (9), Edwin Allen ( St Jago (5), St Andrew High (4) and Manchester High (1).
Yesterday's opening day saw several mishaps in the four preliminary rounds of the relays. Among the top teams who suffered causalities were Edwin Allen, Manchester High and St Jago in Class Three, while Holmwood in Class One suffered a similar fate.
A clearer picture will unfold on today's second day where four boys finals and four girls finals are down to be contested.
Left: Nikita Tracey. Right: Wolmer's Boys School's Dwayne Extol (left), clears a hurdle on his way to victory in heat three of the Boys 400m Hurdles Open at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships at the National Stadium yesterday. - Ian Allen
Yesterday's opening day of competition of the 100th Issa/GraceKennedy-sponsored Boys and Girls Athletics Championships was filled with thrills, spills and excitement, but several of the top teams suffered casualties.
Two records were broken in the Class One discuss for both boys and girls, as St Hughs' Candicea Bernard and Calabar's Chad Wright were in impressive form.
In his first effort, the first throw of the championship in the preliminary round of the boys event, Wright erased his teammate's Travis Smikle's record of 51.45 metres, as he produced a new mark of 52.16 metres.
did not disappoint
In the girls' event the overwhelming favourite did not disappoint as she destroyed former Holmwood Technical standout Salcia Slack's mark of 45.13 metres, set two years ago, with a new mark of 47.76 metres. Vere Technical's Vanessa Levy, who finished second, also exceeded the old record, with a throw of 45.85 metres, with Edwin Allen's Keneisha Stewart taking the bronze with 37.97 metres.
The other finals for females saw Steths' Rochelle Farquharson maintaining her excellent form, jumping into a positive 2.2 m/s wind, she had a leap of 13.20 metres.
It was a bonus for Wolmer's Girls, as they took the next two medals with Samantha Francis leaping 12.68 metres taking silver, ahead of Jeanell Facey who jumped 12.50 metres.
The other final contested on the opening day saw Wolmer's taking a quinella in the boys Class One long jump. Kamal Fuller won the event with a leap of 7.45 metres, with his teammate Ramone Bailey second with 7.38 metres. Damon McLean of Campion took the bronze with a leap of 7.09 metres.
leaders
Wolmer's have assumed the early lead after one final with 16 points, they are followed by Campion (6) Calabar 5), St Georges' College (4) Kingston College (3) Old Harbour (2) and Morant Bay (1).
In the girls section, former champions Vere Technical following the completion of two finals, are on 16 points, followed by Wolmer's (13), St Hughs (9), Holmwood Technical (9), STETHS (9), Edwin Allen ( St Jago (5), St Andrew High (4) and Manchester High (1).
Yesterday's opening day saw several mishaps in the four preliminary rounds of the relays. Among the top teams who suffered causalities were Edwin Allen, Manchester High and St Jago in Class Three, while Holmwood in Class One suffered a similar fate.
A clearer picture will unfold on today's second day where four boys finals and four girls finals are down to be contested.