DEFENDING champion Jazeel Murphy looked untroubled as he powered his way to victory in the Under-20 boys 100m on day one of the two-day Carifta Trials at the National Stadium, yesterday.

Murphy was among the pack which included powerhouses Odail Todd and Jevaughn Minzie, but started pulling away at the 50m mark to take the title in 10.52 seconds ahead of this season’s stand-out Todd of Green Island.

Murphy, who has been training at the UWI-based Racers Track Club under Glen Mills since last September, said he did not expect to win that easily.

“I just had to try to execute. I just feel proud of myself right now,” Murphy said.

“I think the execution wasn’t there,” Todd, who posted 10.64 seconds, said. “Every day is windy, so condition wouldn’t be a problem,” he added. Wolmer’s Raheem Robinson won the B final and finished third overall in 10.74 seconds. Minzie of Bog Walk was third in the A final and fourth overall in 10.76 seconds.

Wolmer’s Odean Skeen did not show up for the boys’ 100m after failing to recover from an ankle injury suffered at last weekend’s Gibson Relays. Monique Spencer of Edwin Allen upstaged favourite Chanice Bonner of Holmwood Technical in the girls’ Under-20 final.

Spencer posted 11.58 seconds to win. “I just execute as the coach said. I was just trying to get the start over them,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Yanique Thompson (11.64 seconds) was second and Bonner third in 11.68. St Jago had double winners in the Under-17 100m.

Raheem Chambers clocked 10.89 seconds to win the boys’ event. “I feel very good. I’m elated that I won this race,” he said.

Jelani Walker of St George’s was second in 10.95 seconds, and Leroy Francis of STETHS (11.05) third.

Natalliah Whyte came from 30m behind to power past Shellece Clark of Edwin Allen to take the Under-17 girls’ 100m in 11.93 seconds. “I didn’t get a good start, but I thought if I fought hard enough I could be the champion,” Whyte said. Clark (11.98) and St Andrews’ Rushelle Burton (12.13) were second and third. Omar McLeod of Kingston College won the Under-20 boys’ 400m hurdles in 51.05 seconds in a tough fight to the line with Okeen Williams, who was second in 51.33. Marvin Williams, his STETHS team mate, was third in 53.48.

There was a stern battle for the victory between Kimone Green, of STETHS, and Tatiana Wolfe, of St Jago, in the Under-20 girls’ 400m hurdles. Green prevailed in 58.41 seconds with Wolfe finishing in 59.02. Andrenette Knight of Vere was left in tears after falling over the penultimate hurdle.

Edwin Allen’s Patrice Moody claimed the 300m hurdles for girls in 42.58 seconds ahead of Safiyah Thompson of St Jago and Brittany Thompson of Hydel in 43.06. Duran Crooks of Munro won the boys’ 400m hurdles in 55.15 seconds and Orlando Smith of STETHS (55.18) was second, and Renaldo Banton of STETHS 56.34, third.

Javauney James of STETHS clocked 9:20.47 minutes to win the Under-17 boys’ 3,000m ahead of Romar Mundle of Bellefield 9:24.08 minutes, and Jevanney Leslie of Glengoffe 9:34.05.

The Under-20 girls equivalent went to Shanieke Watson of Holmwood (10:18.32), ahead of Sasha-Gay Whyte of Vere (10:25.90), and Stephanie Barrett of Rusea’s 10:28.33.

UTech’s Simoya Campbell claimed the Under-20 girls’ 800m in 2:07.56 minutes with Titania Markland of St Mary second in 2:08.16, and Monique McPherson of St Jago third in 2:09.59.

In the field, Cornwall College’s Warren Barrett threw a massive personal best 16.82m in the Under-17 shot put, surpassing the 15.44m he did at the Western Champs.

Vashon McCarthy of Ascot was second with 16.19m, and Sanjae Lawrence of Petersfield third with 15.69m. Jamaica College’s Obrien Wasome cleared 2.00m to win the Under-17 boys’ high jump followed by KC’s Trevaughn Brown and Javier Lowe with 1.90m each.

Olivia Leckford of Edwin Allen threw 39.62m to take the Under-20 girls’ Javelin ahead of Ayesha Champagnie of St Andrew (39.06m), and Gleneve Grange of Holmwood (37.06m).

Orlando Thomas of Bridgeport threw 55.92m to win the boys’ event ahead of Devon Spencer (55.34m) and KC’s Zavian Richards (54.59m).

In the Under-17 boys’ javelin, Mario Gregory of St Jago won with 45.63m and Shevoy Williams (45.05m) was second. The girls’ equivalent was won by the only competitor, Devia Brown of Hydel, with a throw of 32.90m.

Shardia Lawrence of Vere leapt a wind-aided 12.96m (+2.6) in the girls’ triple jump to win ahead of the Holmwood duo of Tamara Moncrieffe (12.64m) and Latavia Coombs (12.48m).

In the Under-17 event, Britny Kerr of Hydel leapt 12.30m and Tissana Hickling and Abigail Swaby of Vere 12.07m.

Today’s finals include the 100m hurdles for Under-17 and Under-20 girls, 110m hurdles for Under-17 and Under-20 boys, 200m for Under-17 and Under-20 boys and girls, 1,500m, and 400m.

Under-17 girls’ shot put, long jump, boys’ triple jump, Under-17 boys’ discus and Under-20 high jump.

The trials are being held to select Jamaica’s team to the Carifta Championships in The Bahamas later this month.