OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED for Hydel High's Alana Reid in the Class I Girls’ 100 metres and she needed no invitation to seize the moment at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletic Championships, smashing a two-decade-old record in the process.
Reid delivered on her promise of a special performance, clocking 10.92 seconds to win the Class I title, erasing Veronica Campbell Brown’s 20-odd-year-old mark of 11.13, set in 2001. Petersfield’s Alexis James was second in 11.45, and Edwin Allen’s Tonie-Ann Forbes was third in 11.47
It was a field that, unfortunately, was without Edwin Allen’s Serena Cole, who despite winning her semi-final heat in 11.17, limped to the finish line and the injury, later revealed to be a damaged hamstring, ruled her out of the final, ending the possibility of the three-way clash with her, Reid, and James.
Later, Edwin Allen coach Michael Dyke announced that Cole would also be out of the remainder of the championships.
“I had no choice but to pull Serena out of the 100 metres final and the remainder of the Championships as I am thinking about her future, and her health takes priority,” said Dyke.
But Reid’s 11.16 performance in the semi-finals gave an indication of what the crowd at the National Stadium could expect, and she said she was determined to make her mark despite the changing circumstances
“Nevertheless, I told myself that I would do my best no matter who was in the race, and I did just that today. I am honestly pleased with my performance,” an elated Reid said.
It was the result that she had predicted after the semi-final when she declared to her coach that her intentions were to become the first schoolgirl in history to go sub-11 at Champs.
“Before I ran, I came up here, and I showed my coach 10 fingers. And he was, like, ‘Go out there and do it. I know what you can do’,” Reid said.
Holy Childhood’s Abigail Wolfe won the Class II title in 11.59, with Shemonique Hazle (11.65) finishing second, and William Knibb’s Lavanya Willaims (11.66), earning third.
Edwin Allen’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge retained her Class III title, clocking 11.49, with Wolmer’s Girls’ Natrece East finishing second with 11.59, and St Jago’s Poshanna-Lee Blake (11.89) was third.
Immaculate went 1-2 in the Class IV final, with Kayla Johnson winning the title in 11.97 and Naje Brown (12.20) mining silver. Hydel’s Gabriel Morgan (12.24) was third.
Meanwhile, Jody Ann Mitchell retained her Class I Girls’ 1500m title, breaking the record in 4:29.42 seconds, erasing the mark set by Natoya Goule (4:29.81) in 2010. Kishay Rowe of Alphansus Davis was second in 4:30.29, and Danielle King of Hydel was third in 4:35.57.
Mitchell, who is in her final season at Holmwood, said it was the perfect way to finish her high school career.
“I am feeling like a champion. The tough competition was expected. I have been training hard all season, and this is the result,” Stewart said.
In Class II, Edwin Allen’s Monique Stewart (4:41.43.427) narrowly edged Holmwood Technical’s Cindy Rose (4:41.43.428) to win the title.
St Jago High’s Misha Gaye James was third in 4:53.53.
The Class III title included a 1-3 finish for Alphansus Davis High, with Alikay Reynolds winning the crown in 4:46.36. Kededra Coombs of St Jago was second in 4:49.07, and Reynolds’s teammate, Tabbrel Williams, got bronze in 4:49.42.
In the field, the Class I Girls’ Discus record changed hands for the third time in the space of 24 hours, but unlike Tuesday, the top throw would remain with Holmwood Technical’s Cedricka Williams, who won with an effort of 57.84 metres, erasing the 55.19 mark St Jago’s Abigail Martin set in her first-round heat a day earlier.
Martin was second with 53.81, and Britannia Johnson of Camperdown finished third with 50.69.
St Jago’s Kimeka Smith needed a final attempt of 15.82m to win the Class II shot put title, edging Hydel’s Nastassia Burrell, who finished second with 15.55.
Able Mills of St Catherine High was third with 15.27.
Today’s finals will be highlighted by the Class I 400m, with Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell and Hydel’s Oneika McAnuff battling for the crown in their final season. McAnuff qualified for the final, clocking 52.27 to win her semi-final heat while Russell breezed through her round in 53.78.
After nine finals, Edwin Allen leads with 55 points with St Jago (47), Holmwood Technical (41), Hydel (39), and Immaculate (23) rounding out the top five.