ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Former boys’ champions Munro College and defending girls’ champions St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) are leading in their respective categories after Wednesday’s first day of the County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCAA) Western High School Championships at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth.

Munro dominated the throwing events where they amassed 81 points, earning 131.5 points after 15 finals were completed on the boys’ side, 42 points ahead of favourites William Knibb Memorial. Defending boys’ champions STETHS are in third place on 89 points with Cornwall College on 81 points and Herbert Morrison Technical rounding out the top five with 55 points.

STETHS were leading in the girls’ section on 118 points after 16 finals, 22 more than second place Mt Alvernia High- 96. William Knibb Memorial were third on 75 points followed by Black River High-51 points and Petersfield High-46, in the top five.

Munro College’s Devonte Edwards won the boys Class 1 shot put on Wednesday’s first day of the COCAA Western Champs held at the STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth. Edwards threw 18.00m for the win.
(Photo: Paul Reid)

An ankle injury in the Class 1 girls long jump to Chloe Palmer was a big blow to STETHS as Palmer, who finish fourth, was expected to win and also to score points in the Class 1 high jump and triple jump Open as well.

William Knibb Memorial’s Cheyenne Cooper won the Girls Class 1 long jump and high jump double on Wednesday and will hope to complete a treble on Saturday’s second day by winning the triple jump.

The 18 year-old jumped a personal best 5.55m (2.0m/s) to win the long jump, surpassing her previous best 5.40m and then equalled her life time best 1.65m in the high jump.

Munro College’s Oneil Brown looks well set for the boys class 2 400m/400m hurdles double as he led both races after the first rounds on Wednesday. Brown raised eyebrows after he ran 49.18 seconds to lead the qualifiers in the 400m, well ahead of STETHS’ Norman Sutherland- 50.96 seconds and Alanzo James of Petersfield High, 51.04 seconds. He then returned to run 57.09 seconds in the 400m hurdles, with O’Shae Johnson of William Knibb Memorial next best with 58.52 seconds and Cornwall College’s Kemar McLennon third in 59.36 seconds.

Munro’s Selethel Johnson won the Boys Class 2 high jump with 1.85m, beating his teammate Ainsworth Ferguson- 1.80m and Jayden Wolliston of Herbert Morrison Technical- 1.80m.

Boys points after 15 finals
Munro College- 131.5, William Knibb Memorial-89.5 STETHS-89, Cornwall College-81.5, Herbert Morrison Technical-55, Petersfield High-23 BB Coke High-18 Sydney Pagon High-13, Black River High-10 Maggotty High-10 Green Island High-9, Rhodes Hall High-8.5, Mannings School-7, Frome Technical-6, Anchovy High-3

Girls points after 16 finals
STETHS-118, Mt Alvernia High- 96, William Knibb Memorial- 75, Black River High- 51, Petersfield High-46, Maggotty High-33, Mannings School-20, Sydney Pagon-16, Godfrey Stewart-16 Frome Technical-15, Rusea’s High-14, Maldon High-13, Muschett High-13 Albert Town High-12 BB Coke High- 8, St James High-5 Anchovy High-5 Rhodes Hall High- 3Lacovia High-2