TREASURE BEACH, St Elizabeth — Rusea’s High were holding on to a slender three-point lead over defending champions St Elizabeth Technical after 13 finals on yesterday’s girls eliminations of the Digicel/Hanover Co-Operative Credit Union’s County of Cornwall Athletics Association’s Western Championships at the Treasure Beach Sports Complex in St Elizabeth.

Rusea’s High had amassed 95 points, just ahead of STETHS’ 92 with Petersfield High in third place on 56.5, Herbert Morrison Technical fourth on 53 and Hampton School in fifth place on 32.5 points.

The Lucea-based school led for most of the day and held a double-digit lead over the champions after nine finals were completed.

Meanwhile, Petersfield High’s Shyledeen Smith set the only record on the day, smashing the meet record in the Class Two discus throw, hurling the disc 45.85m on her first attempt in the preliminaries.

The 17-year-old, who retained her title from last year, beat the 15-year-old mark of 40.36m set in 2000 by Keneisha Marshall formerly of Mannings School.

Smith was impressive and threw over 39.00 metres on two other efforts, while fouling on her last two throws in the final.

Tiwani Myles of Rusea’s took the silver with 32.10m, while Mt Alvernia High’s Anikia Dixon was third with 31.17m.

Petersfield’s Kayla Mitchell won Class Three with 32.07m, beating Maggotty’s Krista-Gay Leslie (31.95m), while another Petersfield thrower Kimona Williams was third with 29.98m.

Rusea’s High’s Chevele Myrie won the Class One discus with 29.57m, beating her teammate Natasha Gordon (28.70m) and Omolayo Cunningham of Frome Technical (26.54m).

There was an upset in the Class Three high jump where Herbert Morrison’s Shyanne Smith beat defending champion and record-holder Lamara Distin.

Both cleared 1.60m, but Smith won on the count-back. Shannakay Ebanks of Lacovia was third with 1.40m.

Herbert Morrison’s Sashane Hanson retained the Class One high jump title clearing 1.60m on her first attempt before retiring with an injury.

Her teammate Alixe Knott took the silver with 1.40m, while Mt Alvernia High’s Shamara Thomas was third with 1.35m.

Collista Baker won Class Two also with 1.60m, beating Celena Morris of STETHS (1.55m) and Carlalee Tingling of Herbert Morrison was third with 1.50m.

Rusea’s High’s impressive Class Three runner Tara Bert won the 1500m in a hand timed 5:01.00 minutes well ahead of Albert Town’s Kelly-Ann Beckford (5:03.5) and another Rusea’s runner Kimone Buchanan (5:10.3).