ON a day when the gauntlet was thrown down by athletes in Western Jamaica, a number of the Corporate Area’s best signalled a return to form at the Puma Youngster Goldsmith Classic, which kicked off the Digicel Grand Prix series at the National Stadium yesterday.

Among them was Calabar’s Dejour Russell, who showed class when winning the boys’ Class Two 100m and 110m hurdles events.

The powerfully built Russell, coming off an injury, produced an exciting display on a day which saw a number of fast times, highlighted by St Elizabeth Technical’s Class One phenomenon Nigel Ellis, who clocked a superb 10.20 seconds at Western Champs in Montego Bay.

Russell, contesting his first 100m event for the season, recovered from a slow start and powered past rivals before easing down in a decent 10.89 seconds to win ahead of teammate Tyreek Wilson, who also won his heat in 10.97 seconds.

The 15-year-old Russell had earlier clocked a comfortable 14.11 seconds on his way to victory in the 110m hurdles where he got the better of teammates Michael Stephens (14.25) and Orlanda Bennett (14.29).

Despite being nowhere close to his personal best times of 10.54 and 13.78 seconds, respectively, Russell believes these performances has laid the platform for what is to come at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships in March.

“I got a very horrible start, but I pulled through the race and I just want to give God thanks that I came out injury free. These performances just prove my strength, but I need to go back in training and keep on improving.

“The preparation has been well; I have just been running my programme as I use to and I will be aiming to go even faster at Champs. But like I said it’s back to training from here and continue to improve for the rest of the season,” he told the

Jamaica Observer.

Not to be outdone was Xavier Angus, also of Calabar, who clocked a dazzling 10.66 seconds in a negative wind speed of 0.5 metres per second to top the boys’ Class One event, ahead of the promising Jevaughn Matherson of Kingston College.

Matherson, who was also coming off an injury respite, ran a very tentative race on his way to 10.69 seconds in a negative wind speed of 1.4 metres per second.

“This was my first 100m for the season, so there are a few cobwebs but it is good to get them off, so expect a lot of fast times to come. I am just returning from injury, so there was a bit of doubt, but I just have to take it one step at a time and once I do that, then it will get better,” said Matherson.

The boys’ Class Three 100m dash was won by Thiea Shea of Wolmer’s Boys’ in 11.22 seconds ahead of Terrique Stennett of Kingston College, who clocked 11.37 seconds, and Jamaica College’s Alex Thompson with 12.36 seconds.

Calabar’s young prodigy Christopher Taylor was also comfortable in victory in the boys’ Class Two 400m, clocking an easy 47.18 seconds. His teammate Brandon Heath was further back in second with 49.66 seconds, and Vere Technical’s Ramone Lindo third in 50.05 seconds.

Sean Bailey of St Jago took the Class One category in 47.40 seconds ahead of teammate Leon Clarke (48.54) and Chevannie Hanson (49.56) of Edwin Allen.

Ashley Williams of Holmwood Technical won the girls’ equivalent in 53.99 seconds, followed by Semoy Hemmings (54.72) of Hydel and Shannon Kalawan (55.51) of Edwin Allen.