Porter soars in U20 high jump

 Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

MANCHESTER High's Chanice Porter was the star performer at Saturday's final day of the Carifta Trials at the Stadium East as in the competitive Under-20 girl's high jump, she soared to a personal best 1.85 metres to capture the event.

Porter, who was second on Saturday's opening day in the long jump, was engaged in a keen battle with national junior record holder, Kimberly Williamson, who cleared a personal best 1.88 at Central Championships, Wolmer's Girl's Israel Ramsey and St Elizabeth Technical High School's (STETHS) Peter-gaye Reid.

In the end only Porter was able to clear the winning height as the other three dropped out at 1.80 metres. Reid was awarded second after the count back, with Williamson getting third.

" I feel great doing my personal best and I am happy for the win as I like to compete with Kimberly as she always forces me to do my best as we do well when we compete against each other," said Porter, the 2010 world junior representative.

Vere Technical's Shericka Jackson and Kimani Brown of STETHS raced to impressive wins in the girls and boys Under-20 200 metres.

In the female event Jackson, the Under-17 champion at Carifta last year, made a sluggish start but found top gear in the final 60 metres to turn back former teammate Celia Walters in 23.84 seconds.

Walters, who now competes for Racers Track Club, was second in 24.05, while Wolmer's Girl's Cardine Copeland was third in 24.38 seconds.

In a very competitive boys event which saw Brown and Odail Todd of Green Island High in a keen battle with nearly 50 metres to go, it was Brown who came out the best in 21.14 seconds. Todd (21.36) and Kingston College's Travane Morrison (21.68) were second and third, respectively.

The Michael Carr-coached Wolmer's Girl's had a sprint double in the Under-17 category, as following the victory of Shauna Helps in the 100 metres on Saturday, her teammate, Jonielle Smith, captured the 200 metres in 24.43. The Queen's School's Chanice Bonner, like she did in the 100m, was second 24.66, with Vere Technical's Satina Chambers finishing third in 24.82.

Jamaica College's Rohan Walker won the boys Under-17 200m in 22.00 seconds, as Bog Walk High's Jevaughn Minzie finished second in 22.01, with Calabar's Zavian Williams third in 22.57 seconds.

Impressive

Kingston College's Stefan Fennell was also impressive. Competing in the boys Under-20 110 metres hurdles final, the World Youth finalist, running into a negative wind of 2.4 metres per second, clocked a fast 13.92 seconds to win ahead of Manchester High's Omar McLeod in 14.18, with Wolmer's Boys' Yanique Hart finishing third in 14.20.

Former Class Four 70-metre hurdles champion, Chrisdale McCarthy, stole the spotlight in the girl's Under-20 hurdles event as she surprised Megan Simmonds (14.09 seconds) of St Andrew High to win the event. Tonique Sobah of St. Jago was third in 14.13. The athletes ran in a negative wind of 2.9 metres per second.

Jamaica College's Tyler Mason, running into a negative wind of 2.8 metres per second, won the Under-17 110 metres hurdles in 14.12 seconds, with Calabar High's Class Three athlete, Michael O'hara finishing second in 14.41.

Holmwood Technical's Yanique Thompson won the girl's Under-17 100 metres hurdles in 14.03 ahead of Camperdown High Petagaye Williams (14.10).