Sts Peter and Paul take early lead at Prep Schools Champs
Sts Peter and Paul leapt to the top of the three-day JISA Prep Schools Championships, powered by GK General Insurance and GK Mutual Funds, with 14 points after two finals at the National Stadium on Thursday.
Sts Peter and Paul hold a narrow one-point advantage over Vaz Prep (13 points) with St Andrew sitting in third spot with nine points, the same as Portmore Missionary and Our Lady of the Angel.
Morris Knibb Prep are sixth on 7.5 points just ahead of Immaculate (six) and Mona Prep (5.5). Emmanuel Christian Academy are ninth on one point.
Nathan Snipe of Portmore Missionary won the first final of the day, the Boys’ Class Two high jump with a leap of 1.35m. Zion Reid of Our Lady of the Angels was second with 1.25m,the same as third-placed Malachi Lindo of Sts Peter and Paul.
Then in the second final of the day, Danoya Byro of St Andrew Prep won the Girls’ Class Two high jump, clearing 1.35m to equal her personal best. Rhaena Rowe of Vaz, with a personal best of 1.30m, was second, while Zoey Hill of Immaculate was third with 1.25m.
Earlier, the day started with the Boys’ Class One 400m preliminaries which saw Donovan James of Sts Peter and Paul throw down the gauntlet, being the only runner to dip below the 60-second barrier when he stopped the clock at 59.62 seconds.
Imaney Samuels of Hydel Prep was second quickest into the next round, clocking 1:00.27.
Sts Peter and Paul looked strong also in the Girls’ Class One 300m as Anya Johnson qualified for the quarter-finals with the fastest time of 43.66, while her teammate Jhanelle Wellington was fourth fastest with 46.04. Hydel’s Franshesa Herron clocked 45.32 in winning her heat and was second quickest.
Meghan Pryce of Emmanuel Christian Academy leapt 4.16m and along with Kiara Shirley of Mona Prep with 4.13m were the only girls over the four-metre barrier entering the final in the Class Two long jump.
In the Boys’ Class One long jump, Hydel’s Lamar Collins did 4.76m in Flight One and will take some beating in the final. Saleem Ayton of Stella Maris leapt 4.66m to win Flight Two and Quidoles McDonald won Flight Three with 4.64m.
Wolmer’s Kaden Levermore looked good in capturing Class One 100m heat in 12.98 and was the fastest into the second round. Nathan Graham of Know Junior was second fastest, winning heat seven in 13.08.
An impressive-looking Alzeliha Allen of Richmond Park laid down a marker, stopping the clock at 13.61 in the Girls’ Class One 100m heats. Ardenne’s Crisan Allen was second quickest, winning heat four in 13.77.
Vaz Prep’s Safiya Little turned up big and was quickest in the Girls’ Class Two 60m heat, clocking a smart 8.92 (-2.7) seconds to finish just outside her personal best of 8.79. To put Little’s run into perspective, her teammate Zane-Joshua May was quickest in the Boys’ Class Two 60m clocking 8.79.
Mount St Joseph’s Khariah Peart ran a personal best 7.75 (-2.0 mps) and was the fastest qualifier in the Girls’ Class Three 50m. In fact, she was quicker than the fastest boy Nevaro Gordon of Knox who clocked 7.82 (-1.9 mps) seconds.
The competition continues Friday with the 400m and 300m semi-finals, followed by the Girls’ Class One high jump final. There will be 10 finals on the penultimate day.
