Alana Reid’s blockbuster 2023

FORMER HYDEL High School sprinter Alana Reid had a phenomenal 2023, easily outdoing all other junior athletes in the country.

It all started for Reid at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships in March.

The expected clash between her and former Edwin Allen High School’s Serena Cole in the Class 1 100 Metres did not materialised, with the former out of the finals with a hamstring injury. Reid went on to win the event in a record 10.92 seconds. It was also a national junior record, breaking Veronica Campbell-Brown’s 11.12 seconds, set in 2001.

Reid went on to win the 100m at the PUMA East Coast International Showcase meet in Maryland in a record 11.01 seconds.

In Maryland, she was expected to be strongly challenged by British Virgin Islands Adaejah Hodge, the 2022 Austin Sealy winner at the Carifta Games in Kingston, Jamaica. Instead, Reid ran out an easy winner, with Hodge taking second in 11.11 seconds.

Reid, who was also the Carifta Games Under-20 champion in 11.17 seconds, was ranked number two on the World Junior list, with her 10.92 seconds, behind the United States’ Shawnti Jackson, with 10.89 seconds.

Discus thrower, Cedrika Williams, out of Holmwood Technical with a season best 57.84 metres, was the only other female from Jamaica ranked in the top five on the world list at number four.

Look out for The Gleaner’s Sports Year in Review on newsstands near you this Sunday.