No shortage of drama in 100m finals

There were three major upsets on the track at the ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) on Thursday, day three. Two were among the girls and one among the boys on a day where Edwin Allen High School Class Two sprinter Tia Clayton was disqualified for false-starting.

St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) produced brilliant performances to sweep the Boys 100m events.

Clayton’s disqualification brought her twin sister Tina to tears as she was shown the red card. Although emotional before the restart of the race, Tina romped to an impressive win in 11.38 seconds as Hydel High School’s duo of Kerrica Hill (11.61s) and Alana Reid (11.65s) took second and third, respectively. Tina, after crossing the finishing line, threw herself to the ground and wept once again at her sister’s misfortune.

Edwin Allen picked up two other wins in the 100m as in Class Four, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge won in 12.53s as Poshanna-Lee Blake of St Jago High School finished second in 12.74s, with Vere Technical High School’s Marria Crossfield taking third in 12.85s.

In Class One, it was an impressive win for Brandy Hall, who clocked 11.72s ahead of Hydel’s Shenese Walker 11.86s, and Holmwood Technical Sashieka Steele (11.88s).

On the boys side, there was a major upset in the Class One 1500m as the red hot favourite J’Voughnn Blake of Jamaica College (JC) finished fourth in 4:02.37 minutes behind winner Chevonne Hall of Edwin Allen who clocked 3:59.70 minutes. Kingston College’s (KC) Aron Tanui was second in 3:59.86 minutes, ahead of JC’s Handal Roban (4:01.48 minutes).

Dennis, who showed in the semifinal that he was prepared to do something special at his final Champs, beat pre-race favourite Antonio Watson of Petersfield High School by clocking 10.53s for the win as Watson had to settle for second in 10.58s. The fast starting Bouwahjgie Nkrumie of KC was third in 10.65s.

Earlier, there were impressive wins for Tramaine Todd in Class Three and Orlando Wint in Class Two for STETHS. Todd won in 11.03s, ahead of KC’s Nicardo Johnson (11.28s) and Vere’s Malik Carridice, third in 11.40 seconds.

Wint won Class Two in 10.76s, ahead of JC’s Hector Benjamin, second in 10.79s, with Wint’s teammate Javorne Dunkley taking third in 11.01s.

IAN ALLEN PHOTOS St Elizabeth Technical High School’s Sachin Dennis (centre) strides to victory ahead of Petersfield High School’s Antonio Watson (left) and Edwin Allen’s Bryan Levell in the Class One Boys 100m final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Thursday.

Edwin Allen’s Brandy Hall ( centre) takes the Class One Girls 100m final ahead of Hydel High School’s Shenese Walker ( second right), Holmwood Technical High School’s Sasheika Steele ( second left), St Catherine High School’s Shakeira Bowra ( left), and Rusea’s High School’s Salieci Myles.