The boys shared the spoils at the final staging of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Qualification Trials Series at the National Stadium last Saturday, ahead of their respective regional championships that begin this week with the Corporate Area Development tomorrow and Saturday.

In the afternoon session at National Stadium, Devontie Archer of Excelsior High dropped the hammer in the Class One boys’ 400m as he stormed to victory in 47.18s, ahead of Tahj Hamm of Holmwood Technical who was second in 47.87s. His teammate Antonio Blair, who ran a personal best, was third in 48.04s.

In Class Two, the fleet-footed Derrick Grant of Ferncourt High was first in 48.76s, ahead of Jasauna Dennis of STETHS who was second in 49.64, while Antonio Forbes of Kingston College (KC) was third in 49.84s.

Jordan Taylor of KC was the Class Three boys’ 400m winner in 52.60s, ahead of second-placed Durville Jackson of Calabar High who ran 54.05s and, Joaqueem Miller of STETHS who was third in 54.91s.

Jeremy Bembridge of Calabar High took the Class One boys’ 400m hurdles in 52.16s, just ahead of Rayon Campbell of KC, who was second in 52.21s, while Roshawn Clarke of Camperdown High was third in 53.15s.

In the Class Two boys’ 400m hurdles, it was a KC 1-2 as Antonio Forbes, who was third in the flat event, won in 54.34s, while his teammate Shamari Jennings was second 55.02s. Sean Gardener of Jamaica College was third in 55.19s.

It was a ding-dong battle in the Class One boys’ high jump as the top four athletes topped out at 1.90m and had to be separated on countback. Waukeem Walters of Wolmer’s Boys’ finished first, Derrick Bernard of Campion College was second, Anthony Thorpe of Herbert Morrison High was third, while Khailan Vitalis of KC was fourth.

Aaron McKenzie of KC was the most impressive high jumper on the day as he cleared 2.00m, going even higher than the Class One boys’ to take first place in the Class Two boys’ event. Jordon Tomlinson of Wolmer’s Boys’ was second with 1.75m, while Jaydon Parkes of Titchfield High was third, also with 1.75m.

There was a virtual dead heat in Class Three as Edward Sterling of Wolmer’s Boys’ won the high jump with 1.65m on countback ahead of Euan Young of Jamaica College who was second and Shaquan Gordon of Calabar High who was third, with the same height.

Andwele Shurland of Petersfield High won the boys’ pole vault Open with a best of 4.20m, ahead of Kito Campbell of Calabar High who was second with 3.90m and Jafar Moore of KC who was third with 3.80m.

The Corporate Area schools will face-off, starting on Friday, in what is expected to be a keenly contested meet.

— Dwayne Richards