Clarke upstages Archer in Boys Under-20 400m hurdles
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Camperdown High School’s Roshawn Clarke staged a late rally to catch early leader and race favourite Devontie Archer in a dramatic ending of the final of the Boys Under-20 400 metre hurdles on Friday’s second day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Ministry of Health/Supreme Ventures National Junior Championships at the national stadium.
Archer led for most of the race until the he cleared the final hurdle but faltered and Clarke took advantage by chasing and catching him on the tape, with both awarded the same time of 51.69 seconds.
They are among three Jamaicans who achieved the qualifying time for the World Under-20 championships to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in August.
Calabar High’s Javel Fullerton had run under the qualifying mark earlier in the year and was third today with 53.85 seconds.
Meanwhile, Hydel High’s Girls Champs winner, Garrield White, ran a personal best and world number two ranked 57.28 seconds to win the Under-20 girls 400m hurdles.
Vere Technical’s Moeisha Bridgen –58.62 seconds and Hydel’s Daena Dyer — 58.82 seconds were second and third respectively, both personal bests and were also under the World Under-20 qualifying time of 1 minute 00.75 seconds.
St Elizabeth Technical’s Shamer Blake won the Under-17 boys race, running 52.86 seconds, and just getting across the line before Antonio Forbes of Kingston College who ran 52.90 seconds with his teammate Shamari Jennings third in 54.41 seconds.
Alliah Baker of Hydel was the only runner in the Under-18 girls race and clocked 1:02.19 seconds.
Paul A Reid