Davis set for season’s 100m debut

Edwin Allen High School sprinting star Kevona Davis continues her preparation for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) at the Ben Francis Invitational Meet today. Davis, who also has ambitions of competing at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships and maybe even the Tokyo Olympics this summer, makes her 100m debut at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport at 2 p.m.

Unlike a year ago when she ran her first 100m race at Champs, coach Michael Dyke has decided to do things differently this time around.

“Kevona started her preparation a little bit late, which is no fault of hers,” Dyle said. “After her opening in the 200m at STETHS (St Elizabeth Technical High School) three weeks ago, it is only good to see what she will do in the shorter sprint going into the Championships, as she will only run the 200m at next week’s Central Championships.”

Davis was the fourth-ranked Jamaican female among juniors last year in the 100m behind Briana Williams, 11.02s, Kiara Grant, 11.04s, and Ashanti Moore, 11.17s.

It will be the first time the meet will be staged away from Vere Technical and organiser Kerron Grant said this is because of what coaches wanted.

“Most of the athletes are in their last stage of preparations for Champs,” Grant said. “The coaches want them to compete on synthetic track and because of this we have decided to move away from the usual venue.

It should be great excitement today as top team Edwin Allen, Manchester High, and Claude McKay High are some of the teams that will be in attendance at the meet. There will also be cash prizes on hand in select events. The Championships events are Boys Class One Discus Throw, Class One Boys, and Girls, 100m, which will offer $30,000 while both the Boys, and Girls 4x400m will offer $40,000 each. Two Primary school teams, Catherine Hall Primary, from Montego Bay, and Mineral Heights Primary, from Clarendon, have received special invitations to the meet.