THE outstanding Simoya Campbell of Spalding High stole the spotlight on day one of the Milo Central Champs, obliterating the Class One 1,500m record on a day when St Jago boys and Edwin Allen girls took charge of the proceedings.

The remarkable Campbell stopped the clock at 4:26.29 minutes well inside the previous record of 4:40.33 held by Mackola Joseph of Edwin Allen since 2010.

Campbell, who had a battle royal with Desreen Montague of Edwin Allen in the 800m at the Carifta Trials last week, was at it again, as both athletes distanced themselves from the pack.

This time, Montague had a 25-metre lead with 300 metres to go, but Campbell turned on the after-burners, caught and went by Montague at the 200m mark and was simply racing the clock.

Montague, who led throughout, immediately stopped after Campbell went by, even though she was approximately 100m ahead of the third-placed runner at the time.

Meanwhile, defending champion St Jago boys lead the male section by 33.5 points after nine finals up to press time.

The Monk Street boys are on 72.5 points ahead of Manchester High on 39, Holmwood Technical 26, Charlemont High 23.5, and Hydel rounding out the top five with 23 points.

In the girls’ section, defending champions Edwin Allen are in a close battle, leading by only four points after 12 finals with 90 points.

St Jago girls are second with 86 followed by defending all-island champion Holmwood Technical on 82, Manchester High with 56, and Vere Technical on 49 points.

Former queens of schoolgirl track and field, Vere Technical, who are languishing in fifth spot on 41 points, could have been much closer had it not been for what head coach Joseph Wilkie described as a “misunderstanding with the time”.

Several of the school’s high-profile athletes did not turn up for the final of Classes Three, Two and One.

Olivia James, the World Youth 400m bronze medallist and the outstanding Sherika Jackson, also the World Youth 200m bronze medallist, were among those hampered.

“The meet was behind time and there was a misunderstanding with the time and the girls weren’t warmed up properly,” Wilkie told the Observer.

Meanwhile, Manchester High’s Omar McLeod broke the first record of the day in winning the boys’ 400m hurdles Open in 52.28 seconds, well inside the previous mark of 54.3 set last year by Andre Clarke of Vere Technical.

Vere Technical’s Shawn Rowe was also inside the previous record, placing second in 53.32 seconds.

The outstanding Genieve Russell of Holmwood Technical won the girls’ equivalent in 1:00.64 minutes, well ahead of Andrenette Knight of Vere Technical in 1:02.07 and Edwin Allen’s Camira Haughton with 1:02.17.

Joshua Morgan of Hydel High equalled the Class Three boys’ high jump with a leap of 1.70m.

Hot favourite for the boys Class One 100m title, Jevaughn Minzie of Bog Walk was upset by Tyquendo Tracey of Garvey Maceo in 10.52 seconds, with Minzie second in 10.65 seconds into a positive headwind of 2.1 metres per second. Gawayne Stephenson was third in 10.86 seconds.

St Jago’s D’Jean Allwood captured the Class Two 100m in 10.93secs ahead of Jevaughn Daley of Holmwood in 10.97 and Shammar Brown of Tacuis Golding with 11.01 seconds.

Manchester High’s Lennox Williams had heads turning when clocking an effortless 48.09 seconds for the Class One 400m.

Williams, who won at the Carifta Trials last week in a fast 47.09, said he is well on course with his preparations.

“It’s a pretty good time knowing that our legs are still heavy from Carifta Trials. I haven’t started speed work as yet and I expect to run probably 46.5,” he told the Observer.

The final day of the Milo Central Champs continues today at 9:00 am with the 2,000m steeple chase Open girls followed by the triple jump Open girls; Class One boys high jump and discus Classes Two and One for girls.

The meet is expected to end at 5:00 pm with the running of the 4x400m relays.