Another sub-46 run by Taylor

CALABAR HIGH’S ace 400 metres runner Christopher Taylor produced another outstanding performance at the National Stadium yesterday to capture the Under-20 boys one-lap event in the Digicel Grand Prix finals.

The race was billed to be a clash between Taylor and Kingston College’s Dashawn Morris, the two fastest schoolboy 400m runners this season, but the latter was a noshow.

In Morris’s absence, Taylor dominated the field, stopping the clock at 45.82 seconds, his second sub-46 seconds for the season. Moneesh Vassell of Rhodes Hall High was second in 48.82, the same time awarded to third-place Malik Smith of Bridgeport High.

Calabar completed a fine double when Evaldo Whitehorne cruised to victory in a record 47.93 in the Under-17 boys event. Rhodes Hall’s Cjay Whyte was second in 48.45, while Rasheim Williams of Wolmer’s Boys took third in 49.64.

Holmwood Technical and Hydel High dominated the girls’ Under-17 and Under- 20 four hundred metres.

Rickianna Russell of Holmwood captured the Under-17 400m in 54.41, with Hydel’s Dejona Simpson second in 55.54. Third went to Toriann Noad of Holmwood in 55.93.

Hydel’s Cherokee Young won the Under20 four hundred metres in 53.42, from St Andrew High’s Janielle Josephs, 53.80, and Edwin Allen High’s Kimora Muschette, 54.28.

In the 400m hurdles, which got the Grand Prix finals second of the G.C. Foster Classics under way, Hydel’s Shian Salmon raced to a season’s best 57.65 seconds to take the girls’ open event. Holmwood’s Colisha Taylor, 58.44, and Edwin Allen’s Misha Barnes, 57.89, were second and third, respectively.

There were personal best marks in the boys events for Kingston College’s Shantamoi Brown and Rovane Williams of Rhodes Hall.

Brown, the top Class Two man in the event this season, held off a strong challenge from Excelsior High’s Devonte Archer to win in a personal best 52.16. Archer also clocked a personal best 52.22 for second, while Calabar’s Andre Leslie was third in 53.81.

There was a big upset in the Under-20 boys 400m hurdles. Rhodes Hall’s Williams, who was beaten by Calabar’s Malik James King at the Carifta Trials, turned the tables on his opponent.

Drawn in Lane Eight, Williams went out fast and established a commanding lead. James King ran on well, but he could not peg back the World Youth representative, who clocked an impressive new lifetime best of 50.56 – the best time by a schoolboy this season. James King was second in 51.80 as Jamaica College‘s Philip Lemonious ended third in 55.32.