HAVING posted the fastest time heading into today’s Class One 110 hurdles final, Kingston College’s (KC) Daniel Clarke is confident about his chances of clinching the gold medal on the final day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium. Clarke, who has performed admirably in the event this season, comfortably won his semi-final heat in 13.42 seconds.

Calabar’s Shaquane Gordon, the favourite to win the event, holds the second-fastest time, 13.50s, going into the final but Clarke likes his chances.

“I am feeling very confident about my chances because this is hurdles and anything can happen,” Clarke said. “I am in the final so my chances are as good as the other competitors in the race.

“I trust God,and I trust the process and I am always confident, and with God by my side I know that anything is possible in this final on Saturday. I think it is going to be a very exciting final because all competitors have done well so may the better man win.”

Joining Clarke as main contenders for the gold medal today are Daniel Beckford of Jamaica College (13.59s), Matthew Sullivan of Camperdown (13.73s), and Daneil Wright of Excelsior (13.99s). In the Class Two 100m hurdles event Calabar’s Robert Miller and St Jago’s Michael Dwyer hold the joint-fastest time of 14.05s heading into today’s final. Taj-Oneil Gordon of KC (14.20s), Shawn Palmer of Vere (14.38s), and Jonathan Clarke of KC (14.49s) are among the other medal contenders in the final.

Yoshan Bowen of Maggotty clocked 1:57.88 minutes in the semi-finals of the Class One 800m, leading all qualifiers for today’s event. JC’s Kemarrio Bygrave, the favourite, will enter the final with 2:00.41. Jaquan Coke of KC (1:59.82), Ainsley Brown of Port Antonio (1:57.91), Joaqueem Miller of STETHS (1:59.86), Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen (2:00.74), and Simion Bailey of Charlemont (1:58.15) are the other medal contenders.

St Jago’s Winaldo Faulker leapt to 6.51m, capturing the Class Three long jump competition. Alex King of KC was second with a mark of 6.33m while Daquan Dawkins of KC finished with a leap of 6.19m. Favourite Cavel Nooks of JC leads all qualifiers into today’s finals of the Class Three 800m event. Camron Williams of JC (2:05.97), Obrian Clarke (2:09.79), Luke Plummer of Sydney Pagon (2:06.55), and Ratieo Walters of Titchfield (2:07.08) are the other main qualifiers for today’s final.

Samuel Creary topped the qualifiers from the semi-finals for today’s final in Class Two with a time of 1:58.38. Creary is expected to face strong competition from KC’s Nahashon Ruto (2:00.72), Delano Brown of STETHS (2:00.85), Rushanne James of Clarendon College (2:00.69), Rasheed Grant of St Mary High (2:00.75), and Jayden Brown of Maggotty (2:01.42).