Kingston College (KC), spurred on by a record leap in the Class One long jump by Wayne Pinnock, surged to 27 points to establish an 11-point lead over Calabar High at the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships after two finals inside the National Stadium yesterday.

Pinnock, the world under-18 bronze medallist, first jumped to 7.95m thereby erasing the 26-year-old record of 7.87m held by Leon Gordon of Vere Technical done in 1993.

But Pinnock was not finished as yet. He returned for his third jump and soared to an amazing 8.05m to become the first high school boy to legally pass the coveted eight-metre mark.

Pinnock, who had broken the eight-metre mark twice, but with an illegal wind behind him both times, got the favoured wind yesterday and from his long run-up, he nailed it perfectly.

The moment he cut the sand, he sprang to his feet, made the sign of a cross and pointed to the sky. With tears in his eyes and hugs from his family and fans, Pinnock had almost everyone inside the stadium on their feet in acknowledgement of the historic moment.

KC’s Shacquille Lowe improved throughout the long jump to secure second spot with 7.61m, gaining 16 valuable points for his school. Michael Buchanan of St Elizabeth Technical High School was third with 7.14m.

In the first final of the day, the Class Two long jump, Calabar struck first blood as Jordan Turner and Luke Brown swept the top two spots to earn 16 points.

Turner won with a leap of 7.46m and Brown with his last jump was able to achieve a leap of 7.45m, moving from fifth spot to second.

KC picked up 11 points courtesy of Jaheim Cox (7.17m) and Bouwahjgie Nkrumie (7.01m).

Therefore, after two finals, KC are on 27 points with defending champion Calabar in second with 16 points. JC are third on nine points, ahead of St Elizabeth Technical High School with six points. Wolmer’s Boys completed the top five with five points.

Earlier, in the 1,500m in the three classes, Calabar were outnumbered by their main rivals in getting runners into the various finals.

Calabar got four out of a possible six through while KC secured five. JC had all six runners through.

In Class One both Calabar athletes Kevroy Venson (4:04.45) and Kimar Farquharson (4:06.25) safely navigated their way through while David Martin (4:17.23) and Raheim Peynardo (4:20.67) advanced in Class Two.

Surprisingly, Calabar had only one entrant in Class Three, Rasheedi Morrison, who finished eighth in his heat in 4:45.75, thereby failing to advance.

KC fared much better as both Class Three athletes made it through with Jaquan Coke (4:27.82) and Darnell Edwards (4:40.19). In Class Two, the KC twins, Giovanni and Gianni Henry, are in the finals as is Tarees Rhoden in Class One.

JC’s Kemarrio Bygrave (4:30.54) and Khandale Frue (4:31.86) advanced in Class Three as did J’Voughnn Blake (4:17.23) and Omarion Davis (4:18.74) in Class Two. In Class One, Fabian Campbell (4:04.42) and Rushane Fullerton (4:06.53) are safely through to the final.

Calabar fared much better, as expected in the Class One discus as world junior champion Kai Chang provided the best throw of 55.70m heading into the finals. His teammate Tarique George had the fifth best throw of 49.60m.

Petersfield High continued their remarkable performances in the throws as both Daniel Cope (50.00m) and Christopher Brown (48.56m) are in the finals along with St Jago’s Romario Jackson with 50.93m.

After three finals in the decathlon, JC’s Wikenson Fenelon led with 2,301 points ahead of Derick Robinson with 2,176.

Fenelon leapt a record 7.11m in the long jump and was the only person under the 11-second barrier in the 100m clocking 10.95 seconds.

In the 400m, Calabar star Christopher Taylor was present and he dispelled doubts about his fitness with an easy win in a time of 48.40. His teammate Evaldo Whitehorne looked good clocking 47.31 which was the fastest time going into the semi-finals.

World under-18 champion Antonio Watson of Petersfield High eased to a relaxed 48.10.

In Class Two, Calabar secured one of their two runners into the semi-final as Damon Harrison won his heat in 49.06 which was the fastest of the day. Garth Henry, who promised so much last year, was fourth in heat three with 51.79, and failed to advance.

KC’s Michael Joseph (49.42) and Jayden Brown (50.20) eased into the semi-finals, as did Tahj Hammer of Holmwood Technical with 49.11. Brian Roach of Lacovia High clocked 49.24 and won his heat easily while Najay Mickel of Port Antonio High won his heat in 49.41. The imposing-looking Jeremy Bembridge of Tarrant High cruised to 49.76.

In Class Three, Derrick Grant of Ferncourt High was the quickest into the semi-final stopping the clock at 51.10. Calabar’s Shadane Smith (52.18) and Ronaldo Reid (52.52) are through to the semi-finals while the KC pair of Dushaun Grant (52.40) and Akeem Weir (52.52) also advanced.