400m ace Russell hoping for Carifta reward
Published:Saturday | March 11, 2023 | 1:21 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
In a season where she has set the pace in the Class One girls’ 400 metres, Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell says that she is banking on her strong season to check off one more goal in her final junior season, a spot on the national team for this year’s Carifta Games.
Russell took a step closer towards that goal qualifying for today’s under-20 400m with a comfortable display as day one of the Carifta Trials began last night at the National Stadium.
Russell clocked 53.85 seconds to win her first-round heat with Edwin Allen’s Kacian Powell clocking the same time, as they share the fastest times going into this afternoon’s final slated for 4:30 p.m.
Russell, who has had a strong season so far, said: “I’m feeling great and motivated going into the final. I felt relaxed knowing that I didn’t have to go all out (to qualify),” Russell said.
Russell has clocked the fastest time in the Class One event this season, 51.74, which was set at this year’s Central Athletics Championships.
Russell did not see regional competition last year at the Games but was a member of the Jamaica team that won silver in the 4x400m at the World Under-20 Championships in Colombia. Russell said that a shot at regional gold at Carifta would be a great way to complete her final year at Holmwood.
“It would mean a lot to me because it is my final year and going to Carifta would be great,” Russell said.
THIRD-FASTEST TIME
Meanwhile reigning male under-20 400m champion Delano Kennedy of Edwin Allen High qualified comfortably winning his heat in 48.48, the third-fastest time overall. Jasauna Dennis of St Elizabeth Technical qualified with the fastest time clocking 47.10 with Tyrese Ebanks of Green Island High in second with 47.95.
Holmwood’s Rosalee Gallimore qualified for the under-17 girls 400m final with the fastest time (54.90) while Calabar High’s Nickecoy Bramwell clocked 48.87 to lead the finalists for the under-17 boys.
Edwin Allen’s Kevongaye Fowler won the girls’ under-17 1500m in 4:47.93 minutes while St Jago’s Kededra Coombs (4:49.39) and Holmwood’s Jove Rose (4:51.73) finished second and third, respectively. Jamaica College’s Rasheed Pryce (4:06:09) took the under-17 boys’ title ahead of Edwin Allen’s Joel Morgan (4:07.36) and Bellefield’s Requelme Johnson.
The under-20 girls’ title was won by Jody Ann Mitchell of Holmwood in 4:41.71, with Kishay Rowe of Alphansus Davis (4:41.81) in second and Rickeisha Simms of Edwin Allen (4:42.21) in third. The under-20 boys’ title was won by JC’s Kemario Bygrave (4:02:42) while Kingston College’s Ainsley Campbell (4:07.36) was second and Maggotty High’s Yoshane Bowen (4:09.06) was third.
Edwin Allen’s Dionjah Shaw won the under-17 girls shot put final with a best of 3.83m with Excelsior’s Trevisha Parchment in second with 12.82m and Yuleena Parchment of St Elizabeth Technical in third with 11.88m.
Michael Neil of Jonathan Grant won the under-17 boys’ high jump with 1.88m ahead of Jamaica College’s Javion Pladley, 1.85m. Calabar’s Kijuan Williams,1.80m, was third.