Impressive Russell tops McAnnuff in 400m
Published:Friday | March 31, 2023 | 1:22 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
It was a fierce battle, as expected, in the Class One 400 metres between Hydel High’s Oneika McAnnuff and Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell, but it was the latter who had the final say and got the title she wanted on day three of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships at the National Stadium last night.
Russell captured the title, clocking 51.26 seconds, with McAnnuff second with 52.11 and Edwin Allen High’s Kacian Powell third in 52.76. McAnnuff ,who advanced with the fastest time from the semi-finals, made the first move on the back stretch, but Russell responded on the turn and sped home to victory to get the title that she was targeting in her final season at Holmwood.
Hydel’s Jody Ann Daley clocked 53.61 to take the Class Two title while Lacovia High’s Sabrina Dockery was second in 54.12. St Catherine’s Kitania Headley took third in 54.13.
In Class Three, Hydel’s Natassia Fletcher won in 53.99, with Excelsior High’s Breana Brown coming in second in 55.48 and Rhodes Hall High’s Rhianna Lewis, third in 56.15.
After a record-breaking Wednesday night, Class One Girls’ 100m champion Alana Reid began her quest for a sprint double, qualifying comfortably for the semi-finals of the 200m, clocking 24.52 seconds to win her heat. Her time was the seventh fastest time overall. St Catherine High’s Kamaria Knight had the fastest time in qualifying, clocking 23.90. Edwin Allen’s Kacian Powell(23.92) and Wolmer’s Girls Mickayla Gardner (23.96) were the other top qualifiers.
FASTEST TIME
Reid smashed the Class One Girls’ 100m record on Wednesday night, clocking 10.92 in the final, breaking the 20-year mark set by Veronica Campbell-Brown. Class Two 100m champion Abigail Wolfe kept her chances for a sprint double alive, winning her 200m first round in 25.07. Lacovia High’s Sabrina Dockery, 23.55, had the fastest time in qualifying.
Class Three 100m champion Theianna-Lee Terrelonge is also on course for a sprint double in her final year in the class, clocking 24.76, the fastest time among the qualifiers for the semi-finals. In Class Four, Kevina Bourne of Port Antonio High qualified with the fastest time (25.36). Meanwhile, in the field, Hydel’s Zavien Bernard took home the Class Three Girls’ High Jump title with a height of 1.77 metres, which she cleared on her first attempt. Edwin Allen’s Aisha McKay was second with 1.71m, and Rhodes Hall’s Aaliyah Williams was third with 1.68m. Bernard was not able to clear 1.81m, which would have broken the Champs record of 1.80m set by Shauntae Foreman in 2018.
Edwin Allen’s Sheneiela Williams captured the Javelin Open title with a best of 42.40m. Hydel’s Natasha Burrell was second with 41.82m, and Immaculate Conception High’s Zoelle Jamel, 39.70m, was third.
Immaculate had a title in the field to celebrate as Ashley Barnett won the Class Four long jump crown with 5.25m. St Mary High’s Sackoya Palmer (5.22m) was second while Hydel’s Arrian Nelson, 5.10m, was third.Hydel’s performances on day three have given them their first lead of the championships, with 98 points, Edwin Allen are now in second with 87 points, and Holmwood Technical are in third with 71.50.