Edwin Allen, St Jago set to retain Central Champs crowns

Defending champions Edwin Allen High and St Jago High are on course to retaining their girls’ and boys’ titles, respectively, at the end of yesterday’s first day of competition at the two-day Central Athletics Championships at the GC Foster College in Spanish Town.

After eight finals, Edwin Allen are on 86.50 points, and they are followed by Hydel High, 60; St Jago, 41; Holmwood Technical, 41; and Vere Technical, 32.

St Jago, which have never lost the boys’ title at the championships, have a healthy lead after eight finals as they are on 84 points. They are followed by Edwin Allen, 65.5; Clarendon College, 18; Charlemont 14, and Bellefield, 13, ­closing out the top five.

Edwin Allen produced two record-breaking performances. In the girls’ 2000m steeplechase, Aneisha Ingram won in 6:59.79, ahead of St Jago’s Jameaka Mannings, 7:13.32, and Holmwood’s Samantha Pryce, 7:16.78. In the boys’ event, Aj Sweeney made it a double for the school from Frankfield when he won the 2000m steeplechase in 6:04.71 to turn back the Bellefield High duo of Akeem Tomlin (6:05.98) and Javon Francis, 6:13.46.

In the field events,there were several outstanding performances, with Vere’s Marie Forbes leading the way. Forbes, a big favourite to win a throwing double at ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships, had an ­impressive throw of 50.41 metres to ­capture the Class I discus, ahead of Shadae Hudson of Holmwood, with 47.22m, and Shania Scott of St Jago, 46.36m.

Chloe Palmer gave Vere Technical their second gold on the day after winning the Class Four girls’ high jump with a height of 1.63m ahead of St Jago’s Toriann Anderson, with 1.60m, and Manchester High’s Janine Lindsay, 1.55m.

Edwin Allen’s Serena Cole and Lotavia Brown were also winners. Cole captured the Class Three girls’ long jump with 5.75m, defeating Kayla-gay Clarke of St Jago, 5.55m, and Alliah Baker of Hydel, 5.59m. Brown captured her triple jump open with 12.64m from Hydel pair of Rhianna Phipps, 12.61m, and Lamara Distin, 12.54m.

In the Class Two boys’ high jump St Jago finished first and second. Shane York won with 1.85m, ahead of teammate Kymani Thomas, 1.80m. Manchester High’s Jordan Richards (1.75m) was third. York completed a double when he ­captured the Class Two triple jump with 12.78m, ahead of ­teammate Chad Gordon (12.76m) and Ajeanie Saunders of Charlemont, 9.69m.

Edwin Allen’s Christopher Young was impressive in winning the Class Two shot put with a heave of 17.57m, getting the better of ­teammate Trevor Gunzell (14.36m) and St Jago’s Jovan Morgan, 13.19m.

Fireworks are expected on the track on today’s final day of ­competition, which will begin at 9 a.m. A lot of attention will be focused on the Class Three girls’ 200m as Edwin Allen’s Tina Clayton, who won her heat in 24.12 seconds, will go up against St Jago High’s Brianna Lyston, who also looked easy in winning her heat in 24.30.

After seeing St Jago High’s Joanna Reid cruise in 24.25 in ­winning her 200m heat in Class Two, defending champion Kevona Davis of Edwin Allen literally jogged 23.76 seconds to take her heat and her 23.61 record, set a year ago, looks in danger.