THE final of the Boys’ Class One 100m during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Athletics Championships on Wednesday failed to live up to its billing as race favourite Gary Card almost pulled up several metres from the finishing line. The lack of blistering fireworks was replaced, however, by a dramatic show of sheer grit and determination as the visibly limping Card still managed to hold on for victory in 10.27 seconds inside the National Stadium.

Card, who has been having an excellent season, had earlier clocked a personal best 10.06 to win his semi-finals heat very comfortably, which led many to envision that he could challenge the championships record of 9.99 that was set by Kingston College (KC’s) Bouwahjgie Nkrumie in 2023.

However, after flying out of the blocks in the final and motoring well away from the field, he appeared to suffer an injury just past the mid-race point as his stride faltered and he grimaced to clinch a narrow win. Immediately after the race Card went to the ground and had to receive medical treatment.

St George’s College’s Tyreece Foreman was second in 10.29, while Malike Nugent from Excelsior High was third in 10.35.

Excelsior’s Michael Graham clocked 10.46 to win the Class Two 100m in 10.46, with Jaydon Collins from Holmwood finishing in 10.54. Third place went to Bryon Walker from Calabar High in 10.65.

In Class Three, Jamaica College’s (JC’s) Kai Kelly sped to a championships record time of 10.60 to win the final ahead of St Jago High’s pair of Javaney Findlay (10.67) and Rajaun Findlay (10.87).

Kingston College’s Brian Kiprok produced an excellent performance to win the Boys’ Class One 1500m in three minutes 55.24 seconds. Joel Morgan from Edwin Allen High was second in 3:56.12, while third went to Raheem Palmer from Alphansus Davis High in 3:58.42.

William Knibb Memorial’s Thywaine Sterling blew away the field to win the Boys’ Class Two 1500m comfortably in 4:06.24. Luke Plummer from Sydney Pagon was a distant second in 4:12.94, while third went to Moses Johnson from Edwin Allen in 4:12.97.

Kingston College’s Julius Itubo brought the fans to their feet inside the stadium as he clocked a championships record time of four minutes 05.15 seconds to win the Boys’ Class Three 1500m. He shattered the previous mark of 4:12.50. Itubo blew away from start to finish to win the event ahead of Bellefield High’s Jevaughn Tomil (4:18.30) and St Elizabeth Technical High School’s Dejaun Gray (4:23.68).

KC’s Jason Pitter, the bronze medallist in Class Three last year, leads the qualifiers into Thursday’s final of the Boys’ Class Two 400m with a time 47.91, followed by Denbigh High’s Chanton White who ran 48.29. Excelsior’s Gregory McFarlane (48.41) and Munro College’s Oneil Brown (48.82) are the other medal contenders.

Rusea High’s Tiene Barrett clocked 49.98 to lead the qualifiers in the final of the Class Three 400m event.

Barrett, who was the only boy to dip below the 50-second barrier in the semi-finals, is expected to challenge for the gold medal. St Jago’s Khieme Campbell (50.86), Lacovia High’s Nicholas Jones, and Calabar’s pair of Rajeve Allison (51.36) and Justin McKoy (51.23), round out the top five qualifiers for the final.

Kai Kelly of Jamaica College celebrates winning the Boys’ Class Three 100m final in a record 10.60 during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Wednesday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)