Nkrumie targeting sub 10
Kingston College sprint star wins Corporate Area 100m title
Published:Saturday | March 4, 2023 | 12:59 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
The conditions were far from favourable but Kingston College’s (KC) Bouwahjgie Nkrumie still stamped his class to become Corporate Area 100 metres champion before teasing that a sub-10 performance this season is possible.
Nkrumie’s run was the highlight of yesterday’s opening day of the Corporate Area Championships at the National Stadium, winning in 10.32 seconds ahead of Jamaica College’s (JC) Jaiden Reid who was second in 10.51 while Camperdown’s Jason Lewis was third in 10.77.
With wind pounding the National Stadium for the majority of the session, Nkrumie said he still had to ensure that he focused on the job at hand although the desire to go all out was not there,.
“I expected it but when I came in the race I didn’t have the mindset to go 100 per cent because of the conditions. I just wanted to win the race to be able to get enough 100m under my belt,” Nkrumie said.
What he hopes is that conditions will be better at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships where he is targeting breaking through the sub-10 barrier, something he says is in the realm of possibility.
“I am getting very nippy in training. My confidence is increasing, so let’s see. With the atmosphere and support, I highly think that it is possible,” Nkrumie said. KC took two of the four 100m events with Orandy Campbell (12.10) winning the Class Four title. JC’s Malique Dennis (11.39) won the Class Three crown while Shaquan Gordon (10.92) of Calabar High took the Class Two title.
Mickayla Gardener of Wolmer’s Girls took the Class One girls’ 100m title in 11.95 ahead of Essence Burbridge of Immaculate in 12.48 and Mikela Coombs of Excelsior High who came third in 12.53.
Despite taking the title, Gardener was not satisfied with her performance. She had hoped to better her personal best of 11.67.
“I was expecting a little bit better but I will take it. I wanted to do a personal best but it is what it is.” Gardener said.
Gardener’s victory contributed to the school’s success in the event having also taken the Class Three title through Natrece East (12.86) who led a Wolmer’s one-two with Tiana Marshall (13.07). Immaculate’s Kayla Johnson (12.83) won the Class Four title while Camperdown’s Canelia Hope (12.36) was victorious in the Class Two final.
In the 1500m KC took two of the Three Class events, with Christopher Anderson (4:45.62 minutes) winning the Class Three boys’ crown and Brian Kiprop (4:13.60) leading a KC one-two in the Class Two event with his teammate and fellow Kenyan Nahason Ruto (4:13.93) finishing in second place. JC’s lone victory came in the Class One event with Nichalas Power (4:01.82). Meanwhile, The Queen’s School had success winning the Class Three and Class One girls’ events through Shantay Powell (5:35.68) and Ashantae Brown (5:15.45), respectively. Camperdown’s Jennifer Byass (5:12.67) claimed the Class Two crown.
In the field, Camperdown’s Brittania Johnson retained her Class One girls discus title with a throw of 47.70m while her twin sister Brittanie was second with 42.91m. Immaculate’s Maja Henry was third with a personal best of 37.91m.
Kobe Lawrence (54.50m) led a Calabar one-two in the Class One boys’ discus with Delano Lawrence (51.09m) earning the silver. KC’s Daijon Budhai took the Class Two title with a throw of 45.51m.
KC enter today’s second and final day with 148 points in the boys’ title race. JC are second with 129 and Calabar, third with 115. Wolmer’s Girls sit atop the girls’ standings with 131 while defending champions Excelsior are in second with 124 and Immaculate Conception, third with 104.