JAMAICA College (JC) took an early lead after the first final of the GraceKennedy ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships on day two with 10 points after capturing the Class Two long jump at the National Stadium yesterday. Paketo Dudley of JC won the event with a leap of 7.21m with his teammate Johni James finishing eighth for a total of 10 points. Wolmer’s Boys’ are second with seven points after Daemon Creary of Wolmer’s Boys’ stole second with his last jump of 6.75m.

Defending champion Calabar High are third with six points after early leader Daniel Bogle finished third with 6.71m. Yashawn Hamilton of Kingston College (KC) grabbed fourth with 6.70m and securied five points for the Purples to be in fourth spot. Meanwhile, Calabar’s Shakiel Chattoo leads the boys decathlon Open by 24 points after two finals. Chattoo won the long jump with an impressive 7.04m and jumped to 823 points ahead of Tajay Gayle of Papine High with 799 points. Gayle was second in the long jump with 6.94m.

Shamar Morrison of JC was third with 6.88m to be third overall with 785. KC’s Shaquille Shaw is down in seventh spot with 670 points. It was a day of no mishaps for the top contenders — Calabar, KC and JC — as all their athletes safely made it through to the next round. In the Class Three 200m, the high-stepping Javier Johnson of Green Island was quickest into the semi-finals winning heat one in 22.80 seconds. Junior Grant of Bridgeport High won heat five in 23.15 seconds.

JC’s Anthony Haslam (23.21), Calabar’s Tajai Jackson (23.24) and KC’s Roshaun Rowe with 23.39 seconds are also safely through to the semi-finals. KC’s star athlete Jhevaughn Matherson eased to 22.29 seconds, but didn’t look his usual smooth self and was upstaged by the Calabar pair of Christopher Taylor with 21.63 and Tyrek Wilson 21.68. KC’s Tyrek Bryan won his heat in 22.10 seconds. Ashanie Smith of St Catherine High looked good in wining heat five in 21.80 seconds. Calabar captain Michael O’Hara easily won his 200m heat in 21.02 seconds, while KCs Twayne Crooks effortlessly won heat seven in 21.23 seconds.

Chad Walker of St Jago stopped the clock at 21.29 in heat three. Nigel Ellis of STETHS also looked impressive winning heat four in 21.16 seconds, while KC’s Shivnarine Smalling won heat one in 21.31 seconds, pipping Martin Manley of St Jago on the line who was also credited with the same time. In the Class One discus, Vikarie Elliot of Munro College qualified for the final top of the list with a throw of 47.28m ahead of Sanjay Lawrence of Petersfield High with 46.07m. The Calabar pair of Warren Barrett and Ronald Hasting posted the third and fourth best throws of 46.05m and 45.54m, respectively. KC duo of Rajindra Campbell (45.05m) and Mickel Hudson (43.51m) are through also. In Class Three 800m, Rushane Fullerton of Munro College had the fastest time into the semi-finals clocking 2:05.94 minutes in winning heat one.

Rackeem Davis of Jamaica College won heat three in 2:06.51 minutes, while Kobe Simpson of Manchester High took heat two in 2:06.83 minutes. Both KC runners are through as Daren Bailey was second in heat three with 2:10.00 and Jaise Foster did 2:09.27 for third in heat four. Calabar’s Nichquaine Henry and Aljay Tapper qualified with 2:09.49 and 2:09.76 minutes, respectively. In Class Two, Calabar’s runners Javon Williams (2:02.21) and Anthony Danvern (2:03.11) are through along with their main rivals KC’s Damoy Boyd (2:00.19) and Conroy Ellis (2:02.37).

Leon Clarke of St Jago with 2:01.34 and the JC pair of Duvaire Wauchope (2:02.34) and Maliek Smith (2:01.93) also are safely through to the semi-finals. KC’s Chad Miller leads all qualifiers into the Class One semi-finals with 1:55.44 minutes ahead of Rogay Granston of Holmwood Technical with 1:55.97 minutes. Akeem Francis of Edwin Allen High won heat three in 1:56.83 minutes. Calabar’s Alex Hutton (1:59.32) and Chevenne Hamilton (1:57.86) are into the semis as well.