Our Lady Of the Angels in front at JISA Prep Champs
Published:Friday | June 16, 2023 | 12:28 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Thanks to strong showing in the field, Our Lady of the Angels Preparatory have taken the early lead in the three-day JISA/Little Caesars Prep School National Athletics Championships, which began yesterday at the National Stadium.
Our Lady of the Angels are currently in first place with a combined score of 23 points. Mona Prep are in second place with 15 and Emmanuel Christian Academy (ECA) are in third place with 12.
Jourdaine Burke led the way with victory in the Boys’ Class Two high jump with a leap of 1.35 metres, which he made on his final attempt. Emmanuel Christian Academy’s Dejaun Harley was second with 1.30m, and Burke’s teammate, Amorey Green, was third also with 1.30m.
Burke had to compete with a knee problem, which required the wearing of support ,but his coach, Grace Bourah, was pleased with the performances of both her athletes as they set the tone for Our Lady of the Angels.
“They have remained consistent all season. They had had one or two issues, especially Jourdaine, who has an injury right now, but it has been coming on. He is a very strong-willed child, very focused, both of them, and they both worked hard,” Bourah said.
ECA head coach Gregory Jones was cautiously optimistic about his school’s chances to defend the title that they won last year. However, he was encouraged by the performances in the field, scoring points earlier than normal compared to past seasons.
“We are pleased with the field events. Last year we didn’t have that depth in the field events. We are in all the finals that we predicted so far, and we should score, which is not a normal thing on the first day of the championships,” Jones said.
ECA return as a squad rebuilding from winning their first title in school history as their Class One athletes have transitioned to high school. However, Jones says that they are determined to give everything to keep hold of their crown.
Meanwhile, Mona’s Isabelle Martin won the Girls’ Class Two High Jump title with 1.20m, fending off the challenge of Madison Small of Our Lady of the Angels, 1.20m, and Vaz Prep’s Rhaena Rowe, third with 1.15m.
On the track, Lannamans Prep’s Mick-Kayla Gardener qualified for the semi-finals of the Class One Girls’ 100m with the fastest time, 13.34 seconds,with Vaz’s Jowanna Pennat and Hydel’s Kalece Williams rounding out the top three. Ardenne’s Crisan Allen led the field in the Class Two 100m, clocking 13.96, with St Theresa Prep’s Alayna Rodney (14.88) and ECA’s Bellissima Harriott completing the top three.
In the Class Three 50m , Mount Saint Joseph’s Khariah Peart led the qualifiers with an 8.27 clocking. Hydel’s London Bell had the fastest time in the Girls’ Class One 300m with 44.20 while Sts Peter and Paul’s Serayah Fahmi (44.90) and Anya Johnson (45.67) had the fastest times among the other qualifiers.
For the boys, Sts Peter and Paul’s Dejaun Ennis clocked 12.63 to lead the qualifiers for the Boys’ Class One 100m, ahead of Joel McKenzie of Wolmer’s Prep (12.80) and Joshua Ricketts of Avondale Prep (13.00). Lucas Young (8.07) of Sts Peter and Paul was the fastest qualifier in the Class Three 50m heats. Ennis also did his part in his quest for a double clocking fastest time, 58.81, to progress to the next round of the Class One 400m.