Photo: Arianna Golding (left) of Hydel Prep and Timika Scarlett of Belair Prep will reknew their battle in the Class One Girls 200m finals of the JISA/Tastee National Prep Schools Athletics Championships later today.
Defending champions Hydel Prep surged to the top of the points standings on day two of the JISA/Tastee National Prep Schools Athletics Championships inside the National Stadium on Friday. Beginning the day in fourth position on ten points, the Ferry based school tallied a total of 33 points on day two to take over sole leadership of the points table on 43 points, five more than joint overnight leaders Mona Prep who have 38 points.
Meanwhile, former champions Vaz Prep have remained in third position while increasing their overnight score from 17 points to 37 points, just one behind second placed Mona. St, Peter and Paul who began the day joint top with Mona on 20.5 points added a single point on day 2 slipping to fourth position on 21.5 points. Knox Junior School (20.5) fifth , Wolmers Prep (16.5) sixth, Quest Prep and Our Lady of the Angels Prep (13.5 points each) both at 7th, Stella Maris (13) ninth and Mount St. Joseph on 11 points round out the top 10 places going into Saturday’s third and final day.
Nando Meggs of Mona Prep made a major move to claim the title of champion boy for class one when he not only qualified for the finals of the 400m and 200m, but also won the long jump while breaking the record in the morning session on day two. Moments after winning his heat in the 400m semi-finals in the blazing sun, the Mona Prep athlete headed straight to the long jump pit where he put together a fantastic sequence, breaking the old record of 5.52m twice, including the winning distance of 5.56m.
Hydel’s Adrian Kerr expectedly, looks set to take the Class One Boys sprint double as he cruised home in both the 100m and 200m semi-finals. Hydel will be hoping to take the Class One sprint double for both boys and girls but their speedster Arianna Golding may not have it as easy as her compatriot Kerr. Catrine Campbell of Vaz Prep and Timika Scarlett of Belair Prep will be looking to spoil the party in the 100m and 200m respectively.
Scarlett, who was the overall champion girl last year, struggled with a pre-season knee injury which hampered her preparation, but seems determined to close out her Prep Champs career unbeaten in a flat event. She will face the starters’ gun in both the 300m and 200m final with gold on her mind.
The Boys 400m final looks to be a straight dog fight between Dante Dacres of Hydel, Rahmon Walters of Mount St. Joseph and Meggs of Mona with Christopher Seaton of Vaz and Brandon Robinson of Wolmers hoping to steal a march on the favourites.
Gary Card of Ardenne Prep was champion boy at class three last year and has looked comfortable at class two. He has broken the 60m record twice, including the semi-finals yesterday, speeding to 8.41s. Jahzeel Walcott equaled the record of 8.50 in the semi-finals and looks set to be the one to push Card all the way.
Jounee Armstrong of Vaz won the long jump for class two girls on day one of the championships and heads to the finals of the 100m with the fastest time. She will have to be at her best to claim gold in this event however, as she will be severely tested by the likes of Kennice Marriott of Stella Maris, Mickayla Sutherland of Mount St. Joseph and Justine Royal of Emmanuel Christian Academy.
Hydel lines up in most of the relays with the fastest qualifying times but may have wrapped up the championships long before a baton gets passed as they have a number of athletes representing in the finals of the flat events as well as in the field.
Mona and Vaz look set to battle for second spot while Wolmers and Knox Junior School cannot be taken for granted.
The 4x200m open relays will bring the event to a close with the boys’ final set for 5:05pm.
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