Calabar send warning shot at D'Forest Meet

DEFENDING ISSA GraceKennedy Boys Champions Calabar High School sent out a very strong message to their rivals at Saturday's Douglas Forrest Invitational Track and Field Meet at the GC Foster College with overwhelming performances on the track and in the field.

It was 400m hurdler, Malik James King, who led the way for the Red Hills Hill Road team with an excellent display. King, who had a very good first season in the event a year ago, was in a no nonsense mood as he produced a smooth and impressive 52.98 seconds to be top among Class 1 Boy's over the obstacle event. Vere Technical's Ramone Lindo, who won his heat in 54.86 seconds, was second overall with Jamaica College's Phillip Lemonious coming in third overall in 55.12 seconds.

James' teammate, Dean Clarke, was the best in the Class 2 400m hurdles after winning his heat in 56.13 seconds. Excelsior High's Deandrie Archer (56.44) and Kingston College's Shantamoi Brown (56.74) were second and third overall.

Anthony Carpenter picked up from where he left off last year showing good speed to top his peers in the Class 1 200m with 21.29 seconds, where Excelsior High's Kimani Gardener finished second overall in 21.49 seconds. Lindo of Vere picked up his second top three finish of the meet as he was third in 21.62 seconds.

Ellado Coltas gave Calabar a double in the half lap event after taking Class 2 in 22.99 seconds. It was a clean sweep of the top three spots for his team here as David Lynch (23.05) and Levaughn Douglas (23.33) ended second and third respectively.

Calabar also had good results in the middle and long distance events. Javontey Williams topped the Class 1 1500m in 4:12.88 while it was a quinella for them in Class 2 as Rivaldo Marshall (4:19.04) took top honours ahead of Kevroy Venson in 4:19.07. In the 5000m, Marshall turned the tables on his teammate after winning in 14:26.67 as Venson was timed at 15:21.98.

WINNING START

St Catherine High School's Jhonelle Thomas, who captured Gold for Jamaica in the summer at the World Youth Games in the 400m hurdles, started her season on a winning note by winning the Open event in 1:03.67. St Andrew High School' s Michka-Mae Hyde was second overall in 1:06.56 as Thomas teammate, Shanise Walsh was third in 1:06.93.

Julien Alfred gave the St Johns Road based school another win after taking the Class 2 200m in 24.89 seconds, getting the better of the Excelsior duo of Dorian Nelson (24.96) and Ackera Nugent (24.99), who grabbed second and third respectively.

It was wins for Excelsior in the Classes 4 and 3 200m events. Mikela Coombs won in Class 4 in 26.29 seconds, ahead of the Immaculate Conception High School pair of Samoi Richards (26.30) and Mikayla Heinsday (26:32).

Vere Technical's Amoi Brown was best among Class 1 Girl's after stopping the clock at 24.85 seconds, getting the better of her teammare, Terriesha Walcott, who was second in 25.36 seconds, with Immaculate's Aliyah McDonald taking third in 25.52.