EDWIN ALLEN, ST JAGO DEFENDED THE DIGICEL GRAND PRIX FINAL IN FINE STYLE

Photo: Christopher Taylor points to the clock as he pilot’s home Calabar High School to a record breaking win in the last track event of the Digicel Athletics Grand Prix Series Finale at the National Stadium on Saturday. Calabar won the event in 3:09.96 seconds to erase the 3:10.84 seconds set way back in 2015 by St. Elizabeth Technical High School.

The National stadium was host to a feast of exciting and thrilling performances as the curtains came down on the third staging of the Digicel Grand Prix on Saturday.

It was a clash of the various winners from Eastern, Western, Corporate and Central Championships, all coming out firing with several of their top athletes and schools chasing the one million dollars in prize money towards their schools sports programme and individual cash incentives that were on offer. The two runner up schools were awarded $500,000 and $200,000 respectively, with individual record breakers pocketing $250,000 in scholarships.

On the night, new records were produced as Edwin Allen made it three straight Grand Prix wins, amassing 76 points, whilst St Jago Boys staved off the challenge of Calabar to win by 1.5 points – 84 points to 82.5 points with Kingston College third on 60 points.

The Excelsior Eagles (54) secured second spot in the girls section ahead of Holmwood Technical (52), while Hydel High and St Jago, tied for fourth spot on 40 points apiece.

Edwin Allen’s marquee sprinter Kevona Davis produced a commanding, record breaking run of 23.34 seconds to win the U-17 girls 200m , erasing the old mark of 23.95 seconds set by Kaskekia Cameron done in 2015. Hydel’s Gabrielle Matthews 23.78 seconds and Excelsior’s Ackera Nugent 24.63 seconds, completed the top three spots in that event.

The U-17 Boys final was a battle royal as St. Elizabeth’s Sachin Dennis motored his way to a new record of 21.10 seconds, leaving Wolmerian Jermy Farr 21.48 and Petersfield Anthonio Watson 21.65 seconds to wrestle for the runner up spots. The old mark was held by Calabar’s Dejour Russell at 21.16 seconds from the 2015 series.

St Jago’s Annika Brissett (24.1) continued her good form nipping Hydel’s Isheena Belnavis (24.17) and Petersfield Okera Myrie (24.47) in the U-20 Girls section.

Calabar’s Christopher Taylor outclassed the U-20 field to win the final in new personal effort of 20.59 seconds, just shy of the 20.40 record set by St. Elizabeth Technical Nigel Ellis in 2016.

Holmwood Technical’s Saskeia Steele held her form all the way through to snatch the U-17 girls title in a new record and personal best 11.50 (+ 1.0mps), ahead of St Catherine’s Juleen Alfred 11.52 seconds and Mount Alvernia Soyinne Grenyion 11.88 seconds.

Wolmer’s Xavier Nairne won the U-17 Boys final in 10. 58 seconds (+1.5mps) ahead of Calabar Chadwick Stewart 10.69 seconds and Jaydeon Crooks of Irwin High 10.78 seconds.

Michae Harriot ran a new record of 11.50 seconds (+0.7mps) to give Holmwood Technical High victory in the U-20 girls final ahead of St Jago’s Kimone Shaw 11. 80 seconds and Oberlin’s Latoya Graham 11.81 seconds.

Calabar’s Micheal Stevens 10.37 seconds (+ 1.1 mps) endured the pain to win the Boys U-20 final, ahead of Excelsior Malique Scott 10.46 seconds and St Catherine’s Ashani Smith 10. 57 seconds.

Kemar Bailey-Coley produced 10.07 seconds to defeat Bahrain’s Andrew Fisher 10.16 seconds and Akan’s Mario Forysthe 10.17 seconds in the Open event for Men Clubs/institutions.

Jura Levy ran 22. 98 seconds to win the Women’s Clubs/institutions final with GC Foster College Demish Gaye producing 20.48 seconds to win the Male section.

St Elizabeth Technical’s Stacey Ann Williams produced a very outstanding display to secure the U-20 Girls 400m final in 52.62 seconds turning back the challenge of Holmwood’s Technical 53.56 seconds and Edwin Allen Kimorla Muschette 54. 82 seconds finishing third.

Bridgeport High’s Malik Smith rose to occasion, holding his form to secure the Boy’s section in a new personal best effort of 47.00 seconds defeating the Calabar pair of Anthony Carpenter 47.28 seconds and Shemar Chambers 47.47 seconds.

St Jago’s Joanne Reid gave a fine display en route to erasing Vere Technical’s Sanique Walker old record of 54.99 seconds, crossing the line in a new personal effort of 54.49 seconds. Finishing second was St Andrews Girls Janielle Joseph 54.78 seconds and Holmwood Technical’s Daniella Deer 55.03 seconds.

Edwin Allen’s Jevaugh Powell produced a strong burst to the line to win the U-17 Boys 400m in 48.08 seconds ahead of Calabar’s Niquaine Henry 48.91 seconds and Kingston College’s Shanthamoi Brown 49.24 seconds.

Mico University College’s Dawna Lee Loney was at her brilliant best copping women’s section in 52.36 seconds, ahead of Sprintec’s Verone Chambers 52.40 seconds and Ristanana Tracey taking third in 52.77 seconds.

The Akan track club pair of Jovan Francis (45.94s) and Peter Matthews (45.72s) secured the top two spots in the Men’s 400m final. Mico’s Marco Doodnaughtsingh was also timed at 45.72 seconds for third place.

Cemore Donald of Edwin Allen made a successful defence of her 800m U-17 title, producing a new event record of 2:08.82 seconds. The old record was set at 2:10.09 seconds in 2016 by Donald. A determined Shacquena Foote of Petersfield High was second in 2:10.38 seconds and Edwin Allen Rashauna Dwyer 2:13.78 seconds.

Kimar Farquharson also defended his title, bagging the 800m Boys U-17 final in 1:55.66 seconds. He was challenged to the line by Munro’s Rashane Fullerton 1: 56.79 seconds and rounding out the top three was Kingston College’s Arimanya Rodgers in 1:56.93 seconds.

Holmwood Technical’s Chrissanni May, 2:12.07 had to settle for the runner up spot as Hydel Cheroke Young produced a homestretch surge to secure the 800m girls U-20 in 2:10.08 seconds. St Mary High Abigal Schaafe third in 2:20.12 seconds.

Ruseas High standout Akeem Coley (1:52.80s) ran a smart race to win the U-20 Boys 800m final battling past pre-race favourite Tyrese Reid of Spot Valley (1:53.44s) and Jamaica College’s Ken Reyes 1:53.71 seconds.

Mico University’s Samantha James 2:08.99 seconds and GC Foster’s Daniel Glave 1:50.26 seconds won the female and male Clubs and Institutions 800m respectively.

Hydel High was in a no nonsense mood eclipsing the old 4x400m relay record of 3: 36.67 seconds set back in 2015 by 1.01s, winning in 3:35.66 seconds. Holmwood Technical was second in 3:39.50 seconds ahead of The Queens School 3:43.66 seconds.

Calabar High took charge from the front and never relented, on their way to a spanking run of 3:09.96 seconds to erase the 3:10.84 seconds set way back in 2015 by St. Elizabeth Technical. STETHS timed at 3:12.64 seconds and St Jago 3:15.62 seconds finished second and third respectively.

Lushane Wilson of St Jago won the U-20 Boys High Jump clearing a new personal best and Grand Prix equaling record height of 2.18m. Kobe Jordon Rhooms of Cornwall College(2.05m) and Ricardo Carr Calabar High (2.00m) claimed the runner up spots.

Janielle Burgher of Edwin Allen did 1.75m for victory in the U-20 girls High Jump final.

Vere Technical’s Lamara Distin secured the U-20 Girls High Jump with with 1.80m. St Andrews Lorean Murray held on for second with 1.75m ahead of Excelsior’s Rushelle Jones also clearing 1.75m.

In the Boys U-17 Long Jump Kingston College took the quinela as Shaquille Lowe with 7.09m won ahead of teammate Wayne Pinnock with 7.03m and Green Island’s David Tomlinson 6.81m.

The Girl’s U-20 Long Jump went to St Jago’s Tissana Hickling 6.39m ahead of Edwin Allen’s Annia Ashley (6.05m and Camperdown’s Monief Heslop with 5.83 finishing third.

Kingston College’s Carey McLeod produced a personal best leap of 7.79m in the U-20 final, to defeat St Jago’s Rashaun Dwakins 6.80m and St Georges College’s Alexander Thompson 6.74m.

The Under 17 final went to Edwin Allen’s Ackelia Smith cutting the sand at 5.99m.

The Girls Discus Throw Under 17 went to Kimberley Lugg of Excelsior with 38.51m, while Edwin Allen Fiona Richards secured the U-20 event with 51.01m.

The Boys Discus Throw Under 17 finals went to Christopher Brown of Petersfield High with 50.90m following up on his teammate, Kevin Nedrick who won the U-20 section with a heave of 56.48m.