THERE were no surprises on the girls’ side of yesterday’s first day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium as all the favourites advanced.

Papine High’s Tiffany James, who was second in the Class 2 400m last year, threw down the gauntlet when she won her heat in 54.70 seconds, the fastest time of the day, beating Hydel High’s Semoy Hemmings in 56.49 seconds.

Hydel’s Taqece Duggan ran 55.23 seconds to win her heat, while Guys Hill’s Alesha Kelly, Holmwood Technical’s Ashley Williams, and Dinthill Technical’s Yeashchea Williams were also winners of their heats to advance to Friday’s semi-finals.

Satanya Wright of St Elizabeth Technical ran 55.62 seconds, while Sashel Frater of St Jago ran 56.45 seconds to win her heat, and Moesha Barnes of Edwin Allen won her heat in 56.69 seconds.

All the favourites in the Class 1 discus throw also advanced, led by Hydel High’s Shadae Lawrence who threw 46.03m with pre-Champs favourite Rochelle Frazer of Edwin Allen getting a mark of 44.28m, followed by Manchester High’s Isheka Binns – 41.9m, and Edwin Allen’s Tasha Cross – 40.65m.

St Jago’s Latoya Gilding was further down the list with 39.45m, but advanced, as well as Grange Hill’s Felicia Street who was seventh last year.

St Elizabeth Technical’s Sahjay Stevens leads the Class 2 shot put qualifying after throwing 13.88m in yesterday’s first round, followed by Edwin Allen’s Paul-Ann Gayle – 13.42m, last year’s bronze medallist Jannelle Fullerton of Edwin Allen – 13.13m and St Jago High’s Yanike Henry – 12.98m.

The final is one of three set for today’s second day.

Manchester High’s Sydney Marshall was the fastest qualifier in the Class 3 80m hurdles first round after winning her heat in 11.45 seconds (-1.3m/s) ahead of Edwin Allen High’s Khamoy Farquharson – 11.80 seconds, and Gaynstead High’s Deenne Duffus – 11.94 seconds.

Holmwood Technical’s Shannette Allison won her heat in 11.56 seconds (1.2m/s), beating Hydel’s Moesha Fullerton – 11.60 seconds and Chaneal Harris of Vere Technical – 12.01 seconds.

Wolmer’s Girls’ Chris-Ann Bryan – 11.60 seconds and Ruth Ann Roye of Hydel – 11.85 seconds were also winners of their first round heats.

St Jago High’s Kimeon McLeod ran 10.76 seconds (-1.8m/s) to lead the qualifiers in the Class 4 70m hurdles, ahead of St Elizabeth Technical’s Winsome Harris – 10.82 seconds to win the first heat with Convent of Mercy Alpha’s Tamoya Williams, winner of the fourth heat running 10.92 seconds.

Another St Jago High runner, Mellica Gordon who was second to in her heat to Harris, ran 10.89 seconds, while St Andrew High’s Rosealee Cooper clocked 10.99 seconds to win heat three.