Clarendon’s Oakley delighted after topping ‘difficult race’

Newly crowned Class One 400 metres champion, Dejanea Oakley of Clarendon College, says last night’s victory in the event at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships is a massive boost for her career.

Oakley defeated a quality field to win the event in a personal best time of 51.81 seconds. She turned back the challenge of Hydel High’s Oneika McAnnuff, who was second, also in a personal best time of 52.38 while third went to Vere Technical’s Kaylia Kelly in 53.59.

The 17-year-old Oakley, who was winning her school’s first gold medal of the championships, said she was delighted with her performance.

“It was a difficult race because I had to put out most of my effort to win,” said Oakley. “It will boost my confidence and my career,” she said.

Oakley also credited her coach and Olympian Maurice Wignall for her success this season.

“My season hasn’t been great, but I knew what my coach was telling me would come out in the end,” she added.

Ferncourt High’s Abigail Campbell won the Class Two 400m in 53.75 by a wide margin from Edwin Allen High’s Trinidad-born Natasha Fox, who clocked 54.26. Third went to Hydel’s Alliah Baker in 54.44.

Lacovia High’s Sabrina Dockery also dismissed the field to capture the gold medal in the Class Three 400m in 54.76. Holmwood’s pair of Rosalee Gallimore (55.47) and Abriana Wright (55.79) were second and third, respectively.

Grenada-born St Jago athlete Jamora Alves captured her second gold medal at the championships when she won the javelin open event with a mark of 40.30 metres. She won the gold in the Class One discus on Wednesday.

Edwin Allen’s Monifa Edwards took home the silver medal with a throw of 38.90m while Natalie Albert of St Catherine claimed the bronze with a mark of 37.14m.

Alexia Williams of St Jago High captured the girls’ Class Four long jump with a mark of 5.36m. Hydel’s Sashana Johnson was second with a leap of 5.27m while third went to Edwin Allen’s Yasheika Sinclair with a best of 5.23m.

Shanniqua Williams led home a Wolmer’s Girls one-two in the Class Three girls high jump. The winner cleared 1.74 metres while her teammate, Daneille Noble, secured the silver with a mark of 1.71m. Edwin Allen’s Aisa McKay earned the bronze medal on countback after she also cleared 1.71m.

Edwin Allen eased into the final of the Class One Girls’ 4x100 metres after outclassing their opponents in the heats. The Michael Dyke-coached team, who are the fastest high school in the world this season with a time of 43.37 seconds, cruised to victory in 45.32.

They are expected to be challenged by St Jago (45.52), Hydel (45.84), and Manchester (46.02).

Hydel clocked 46.89 in the preliminary round to lead the qualifiers into the final of the Class Two Girls’ 4x100m. They should receive strong competition from St Catherine (46.99), Holmwood (47.05), St Jago (47.21), and Edwin Allen (47.33).

Edwin Allen will start as the favourites in Class Three after comfortably winning their heat in 47.09.

Meanwhile, defending champions Edwin Allen lead the girls’ standings with 123 points after 16 finals. Hydel are second on 83. They are followed by St Jago (82), Holmwood (57), Wolmer’s (36), Immaculate and Excelsior (27), St Catherine (22), Camperdown (19), and Mount Alvernia (15).