Advantage Reid in battle of junior superstars

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND:

HYDEL HIGH School’s Alana Reid was the star at yesterday’s Puma East Coast International Showcase in Landover, Maryland.

The world number-one junior over 100 metres stormed to 11.01 seconds to win the event, running her fastest time since the impressive 10.92 done at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

Fans were anticipating a very close contest between Reid and world number-two Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands. The two should have met at the Carifta Games but it did not happen after after an injury to Hodge forced her withdrawal.

Hodge threw down the gauntlet in the preliminary round yesterday, clocking 11.34 seconds, advancing to the final as the fastest qualifier. Reid ran 11.42 seconds.

When the two met, Reid was out of the blocks very quickly, leaving Hodge for dead. While the USVI standout fought valiantly, Reid kept her cool to pull away, Hodge clocking a respectable 11.16. Avery Lewis of the United States was third in 11.41 seconds, just ahead of Reid’s Hydel teammate, Alliah Baker, fourth in 11.47 seconds.

“I just had the mindset to do my best. It was for me to run all the way through the line and that I did and I am very proud of my performance,” said Reid.

According to Reid, she has not paid very much attention to the arguments surrounding herself versus Hodge.

STAYING FOCUSED

“I am not the type of person who reads comments on the Internet, as it is just for me to focus on myself and I did that. Adaejah is a very great athlete and I am very glad for the win,” said Reid.

In the men’s event, Kingston College’s Adrian Kerr, despite a very good effort, had to settle for third in 10.40 seconds, beaten by two of the best juniors in the world. The United States Nyckolas Harbour won in 10.28 seconds, while his countryman Brody Buffington, 10.29, took second place. Damor Miller of Excelsior High School, 10.56, and St Elizabeth Technical High School’s Javorne Dunkley, 10.57, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Excelsior’s Daniel Wright won the boys’ 110-metre hurdles in 13.87 seconds, while in the girls’ 100-metre hurdles, Holmwood Technical High School’s Kiara Meikle took second in 13.36 seconds.

In the highly anticipated boys’ 200 metres, Edwin Allen High School’s Bryan Levell, competing in his first individual race in more than three months, had to settle for fourth, clocking 21.34 seconds behind the United States’ Asinga Issam, 20.81, Harbour, 20.94, and Buffington, 21.34.

Hydel’s Danielle King won the 800 metres in two minutes, 10.98 seconds with Holmwood’s Jodyann Mitchell, second in 2:11.92.

Homwood’s Rickiann Russell suffered her first defeat of the season over 400 metres, finishing second in 52.54 seconds behind the United States’ Madison Whyte, 52.49. Hydel’s Abigail Campbell was third in 53.30.

Jasuana Dennis’ 47.01 seconds brought him as second-place finish in the boys’ 400 behind Quincy Wilson, 46.11. Edwin Allen High School’s Delano Kennedy had to settle for fourth in 48.96 seconds.

Homwood’s Cedricka Williams threw the discus 53.60 metres to win, while STETHS’ Richelle Stanley won the triple jump with 12.32 metres. Her teammate Rojrika Campbell was second with a jump of 11.48 metres.

Stanley was also a winner in the girls’ high jump after clearing 1.63 metres.