KINGSTON – Former Merlene Ottey High runner Akeem Blake and Edwin Allen High’s Serena Cole ran the fastest times in Thursday morning’s first round of the boys and girls Under 20 100m as the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) national junior championships got underway at the National Stadium.

The top eight in all four events including the Under 18 sections qualified for Thursday evening’s finals set to start just after 6pm.

The Under 20 athletes will be seeking spots on the team to the World Under 20 championships in Nairobi, Kenya in August while the Under 18 athletes will try to get spots on the team to the NACAC Under 18 championships in Costa Rica in two weeks time. 

Blake who represented Titan International is one of seven Jamaican men who have already achieved the qualifying time of 10.58 seconds for the 100m and clocked 10.49 seconds (-1.0m/s) to win his heat in the morning.

Sandrey Davidson of St Catherine High won the second heat in a personal best 10.68 seconds (-1.4m/s); Excelsior’s Alexavier Monfries was third overall in 10.76 seconds while Papine’s Justin Emmanuel ran his life time best 10.83 seconds (-2.5m/s) for fourth overall.

Conroy Jones of St Elizabeth Technical- 10.67 seconds (-1.0m/s), Wolmers Boys’ Jehlani Gordon-10.80 seconds (-1.4m/s) Sanjay Salmon of St. Elizabeth Technical- 10.87 seconds (-1.4m/s) and Andrew Gilipps of St. Jago High-10.88 seconds (-2.5m/s) also qualified.

Cole who ran in the Under 18 section lowered her personal best to 11.67 seconds (-1.3m/s) to win her heat and was followed by Petersfield High’ Alexis James with 11.80 seconds (2.0 m/s), Hydel High’s Alana Reid -11.74 seconds (-1.3m/s) and Rusea’s High’s Lavanya Williams who was second in her heat in 12.02 seconds (2.0m/s).

Also advancing to the final were Mickaila Haisley of Immaculate Conception High- 12.42 seconds (-1.3m/s), the St Catherine High trio of Kaycian Johnson- 12.44 seconds (2.0m/s) Asharria Ulett-12.46 seconds (-1.3m/s) and Kavel Ritchie- 12.53 seconds (2.0m/s).

Hydel High’s Kerrica Hill led the Under 20 girls qualifying with 11.68 seconds (0.3m/s) winning the third heat while the Edwin Allen twins  Tia and Tina Clayton won their heats with 11.77 seconds (-0.7m/s) and 11.81 seconds (-0.9m/s) with St Jago High’s Thennelle Williams running 11.91 seconds (-0.7m/s).

Gabrielle Matthews of The Queens School- 11.96 seconds (0.3m/s), Shenese Walker of Hydel-12.00 seconds (-0.9m/s), Krystal Sloley of Campion College- 12.03 seconds (-0.7m/s) and Edwin Allen’s Brandy Hall- 12.08 seconds (0.3m/s) will also run in the final.

Four runners from St Elizabeth Technical led by Alicke Cranston’s 10.72 sceonds (-1.9m/s) advanced to the Under 18 boys final with Kingston College’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie running 10.90 seconds (-4.0m/s) to win his heat.

Orlando Wint of St Elizabeth ran 11.08 seconds (-3.7m/s) and his team mate Javorne Dunkley- 11.03 seconds (-1.9m/s) are also through along with Herbert Morrison’s DeAndre Daley- 11.13 seconds (-4.0m/s), Hector Benjamin of Jamaica College- 11.23 seconds (-3.7m/s), the fourth St Elizabeth Technical runner Oshane Blackwood- 11.07 seconds (-1.9m/s) and St Jago High’s Odaine Crooks- 11.16 seconds (-4.0m/s).

Paul A Reid