Edwin Allen girls dominate Douglas Forrest middle-distance events

EDWIN ALLEN’s strength over the years has largely come from middle-distance events and yesterday, the Michael Dyke-coached team, which has won eight female titles at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), gave a glimpse of what is to come this season with dominant performances at the Douglas Forrest Invitational meet at GC Foster College.

It was a clean sweep from the defending champions in the 800 metres with their best coming in Class Two. Rhianna Gayle, with her clocking of two minutes, 18.10 seconds (2:18.10), finished ahead of teammates Monique Stewart, 2:18.78, and Horecia Love, 2:25.59.

In Class One, there was a quinella for Edwin Allen with Amoya Jameison, 2:15.23, finishing ahead of teammate Rickeisha Simms, 2:15.83. St Mary High School’s Shone Walters was third in 2:15.84 seconds.

Kevongaye Fowler had earlier captured the Class Three title in 2:25.99 to start the dominance for her team.

Edwin Allen would go on to dominate the 1500 metres as well, sweeping the event in Class One with Simms, 5:04.17, winning her second gold of the evening, finishing ahead of Leanna Lewis, 5:04.78, and Sanae Gibson, 5:05.21. In Class Two, Stewart, 5:03.99, won ahead of Gayle, 5:06.03.

Gibson also captured the 3000M Open in 11:07.50 seconds.

Dyke was very pleased with the results of his team.

“It is a good start for the team, but it is still early days but it is good that they were able to come out and stamp their authority so early. This will give them a lot of confidence going forward,” said Dyke.

St Elizabeth Technical High School’s (STETHS), Habibah Harris and Mt Alvernia High’s Carleta Bernard were in good form over the 200 metres yesterday, topping their peers in Class Two.

Harris stopped the clock at 24.86 seconds, running into a negative wind of 2.0 metres seconds with St Jago High School’s Krystal Hooling taking second in 25.21. Immaculate Conception High’s Shevi Ann Shim was third in 25.62 seconds.

In Class One, also running into a negative wind (3.2 metres per second), Bernard clocked 24.76 seconds for the top spot, with Edwin Allen’s Natasha Fox, 25.15, grabbing second ahead of Vere Technical’s Moya Mitchell, 25.25.

Among the boys, STETHS’s Shamer Blake continued from where he left off last week at Jamaica College, posting an impressive 21.76 seconds (-2.8 m/s) to top the Class One half lap. Kingston College’s Adrian Kerr was not too far behind after winning his heat in 21.79 to finish second overall. Blake’s teammate Jassuna Dennis ended third in 22.07.

Excelsior High School’s boys swept the 400-metre hurdles events.

In Class Two, Demarco Bennett won in 56.24 seconds, ahead of Cornwall College’s Mario Birch, 56.65, and James McLeod of STETHS, 59.95.

In Class One, it was a clean sweep of the top three spots for the David Riley-coached team with Daniel Wright winning in 53.48 seconds, ahead of Rajawn Davis, 53.91, and Richard Hall, 54.24.

Dinthill Technical’s Sean Booker produced the top time in the 800 metres on the day after winning the Class One two-lap event in one minute, 56.64 seconds (1:56.84) with Kingston College’s Jaquan Coke, 1:57.40, and Foga Road’s Franklin Taylor, 1:57.61, second and third.

Kingston College’s Ethan Gioka and Bruan Kiprop produced fast times over the 5000M Open, with the former clocking 15:40.16. Kiprop crossed the tape in 16:34.45.