MONTEGO BAY, St James — Petersfield High and former champions Munro College are leading the girls and boys sections, respectively, over champions St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) after Wednesday’s first day of the County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCAA) Western Championships held at Herbert Morrison Technical in Montego Bay.

Petersfield High have a razor thin half-point lead (51-50.50) in the girls’ section after six finals were decided, while William Knibb Memorial are third on 27.50, Mt Alvernia High are fourth on 27 points and Maggotty High in fifth place on 12 points.

Munro College, who are back to full strength for the first time in years, lead the boys’ section with 63 points after eight finals. STETHS follow on 38 points, then Herbert Morrison Technical with 33, Maggotty High are fourth on 28 and Petersfield High in fifth place on 27 points.

Only 14 of the 20 finals that were down to be contested were decided as a decision was taken that all long jump finals would be held on Saturday’s second day at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex.

Munro College’s Javontae Smith highlighted the day with a massive record in the Class Three boys’ shot put final, throwing almost two metres further than the previous best, while Petersfield High’s Yekini Bowen upset defending champion Chavez Grey in the Class One shot put, where the top-three finishers all recorded personal best marks.

All six 1,500m finals were also decided as well as several high jump finals.

Smith, who won with 16.51m, surpassed Altwayne Bedward’s 14.50m set in 2018 on all four of his legal marks, opening with 15.44m, then threw 15.87m and 16.41m before fouling his final two throws.

It was gold and silver for Munro College with Selethel Johnson placing second with 13.67m and Herbert Morrison’s Zachory Dawkins third with 10.82m.

Bowen, who will defend the discus throw title on Saturday, overtook Grey in the finals to win with 17.68m as the William Knibb thrower got 17.35m and Cornwall College’s Marlando Farquharson threw 16.40m for third.

Petersfield High’s Marsha McKoy won the Class One girls’ shot put with a best mark of 12.03m in the final round, to beat BB Coke’s Breanna Monteith — 11.09m and Petersfield High’s Zavein Bowen was third with 10.72m.

— Paul A Reid