Going for the double at Champs
SEVERAL QUALITY athletes at this year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’Athletics Championships will be seeking double wins for their schools when the prestigious five-day meet begins at the National Stadium next Tuesday. The Gleaner has identified 10 athletes, five girls and five boys, who are likely to achieve this feat at the championships.
BOYS
SHAIQUAN DUNN (Jamaica College) – Class One shot put/ discus
The former St Jago high thrower, in his first season for Jamaica College, is a cinch here for both the shot put and discus. In the shot put he has the best three marks in the event, with his best being 61.73m at the recent Carifta Trials.
In the shot put he has the six best marks with his leading mark, 19.55m, at the King of the Ring meet.
MARQUIES PAGE (St Jago High) – Class Three 100m/100m hurdles
Page’s winning time of 10.89 seconds in the Class Three 100m at the Central Athletics Championships is the leading time. In the 100m hurdles he has the best two times with his 13.01 seconds at the Pure Water/JC/R.Danny Williams meet at the top as he looks set to successfully defend his title.
ETHAN GIOKO (Kingston College) – Open 5000m/2000m steeplechase
With leading times of 15 minutes 27.53 seconds in the 5000m open and 6:00.47 in the 2,000m steeplechase, Gioko looks safe for the double here.
KEMARRIO BYGRAVE (Jamaica College) – Class One 800m/1500m
Bygrave has been in fantastic form all season and with the leading time of 1:51.10 in the 800m he should defend his title successfully here.
With a season’s best of 4:01.58 in the 1500m it will be difficult to deny him the double.
JAVONTAE SMITH (Munro College) – Class Two discus/ shot put
Smith has the seven best Class Two marks in the shot put with his 18.45m winning distance at the Milo Western Relays his best. He could even go farther at Champs.
His winning discus throw of 55.57m at the Western Athletics Championships is the longest throw so far in the event and he should continue his winning ways at Champs.
GIRLS
NATRECE EAST (Wolmer’s Girls) – Class Three 100m/200m
Following he silver medal in the 100m a year ago, East with a leading time of 11.67 seconds should go one place higher in the event. She also has the fastest legitimate time among high school girls this season in the 200m with 23.27 and looks a safe bet to defend her title here.
SHANOYA DOUGLAS (Muschett High) – Class Two 200m/400m
Her clash with Edwin Allens’s TheiannaLee Terrelonge in the 200m will be one of the highlights of the championships. Her 200m clocking at the Carifta Trials where she did a wind-aided 22.85 seconds showed that she is in top form and should prevail here over Terrelonge.
Douglas has a slow season’s best 54.92 seconds in the 400m but she will go much quicker at Champs and take the double.
RICKEISHA SIMMS (Edwin Allen High) – Class One 800m/1500m
With a season’s best 4:31.33 in winning the under-20 1500m at the Carifta Trials, Simms looks set to continue her winning ways in the event at Champs.
Despite being ranked behind the likes of teammate Monique Stewart and St Catherine High’s Kitania Headley in the 800 metres, Simms should improve big time on her season’s best 2:12.19 and go all the way here.
AALIAH BAKER (Hydel High) – Class One 100m/200m
She is expected to lead from the front for her team here. With a season best of 11.59s over the 100 metres, she should go much faster here and capture the event.
Despite only contesting the 200 metres once this season where her best is 24.72 seconds, she is a cut above her peers here and should also take home the half-lap event.
RICHELLE STANLEY (St Elizabeth Technical) – Class One long jump/triple jump open
With a best of 6.37m in the long jump and 12.88ms in the triple jump, Stanley looks a safe bet for double success in these two field events.