Archer, Foote impress at Carifta Trials

Petersfield High school’s, Shaquena Foote and Excelsior’s Devontie Archer stole the spotlight at yesterday’s third and final day of competition of the Carifta Trials at the National Stadium after producing lifetime bests to win their respective 400m hurdles event.

Foote, who finished a disappointing third a day earlier in the Girls’ Under-20 400m, came out with a vengeance in the Under-20 one-lap hurdles event.

After a keen battle with Hydel’s Garrel Whyte midway the race, she showed her class in the latter stages, and despite a slight blunder over the final barrier, Foote went on to win easily in the end, stopping the clock in a new personal best 57.60 seconds.

Whyte finished second in a personal best 58.06 seconds, with St Jago’s Safhia Hinds taking third in 1:00.27 minutes.

GREAT FORM

Archer continued his great form this season as he took home the Boys’ Under 20 event in an impressive 50.88 seconds.

Running out of Lane Six in a very competitive field, which saw the Calabar duo of Nicquaine Henry and Dean Clarke take the early lead, Archer went in front, with three barriers to go, to score a comprehensive win. Kingston College’s Rayon Campbell, running out of Lane Two, ran on strongly to take second in a personal best 51.44 seconds as Clarke had to settle for third, also in a personal best 52.40 seconds.

Camperdown’s Roshawn Clarke maintained his unbeaten tag this season after getting the better of St Jago’s Jaheen Bell in a personal best 52.25 seconds. There was also a personal best for Bell, who ended second in 52.65 seconds, with third going to Antonio Forbes of Kingston College in 53.56 seconds.

Following his disappointment on Friday’s opening day when he stopped at the 200m mark in the preliminary round of the boys’ Under-20 400m, Petersfield’s Antonio Watson returned to the track yesterday to dominate the half-lap event, winning in 20.52 seconds. One hundred-metre ­winner DeAndre Watkins of Jamaica College finished second in 20.80 seconds as Clarendon College’s Rajay Morris took third in 20.90 seconds.

It was Clarendon College’s Richard Nelson who took top honours in the Boys’ Under-17 event after stopping the clock at 21.45 seconds, getting the better of Alicke Cranston (St Elizabeth), 21.77, and Deshaun Gordon 21.77, of Charlemont, who ended second and third, respectively.

Edwin Allen’s Tonie- Ann Forbes took the Under-17 Girls’ 200m in 23.98 seconds as the Rusea’s duo of Crystal Chambers, 24.09, and Lavanya Williams, 24.35 seconds, took second and third.