KINGSTON, Jamaica — Muschett High’s Johan-Remaldo Smythe, last year’s Class Two 200m gold medallist, led the boys’ Class One qualifying round on Thursday’s third day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

Smythe, who was sixth in the 100m final on Wednesday, clocked 21.10 seconds (0.7m/s) to win his first-round heat ahead of Friday’s semi-finals and was followed by Jamaica College’s Makaelan Woods who ran 21.12 seconds (0.3m/s) and Antonio Powell of Edwin Allen who ran 21.13 seconds (0.9m/s).

Munro College’s Romario Hines, who was fifth last year, also advanced to the semi-final with 21.14 seconds (0.8m/s) along with Junior Gallimore of Calabar High with 21.14 seconds (0.8m/s) and Sanjay Seymore of William Knibb who ran 21.28 seconds (0.7m/s).

Kingston College’s Jason Pitter leads the Class Two qualifying after he ran 21.61 seconds (0.4m/s), just faster than Jamaica College’s Malique Dennis with 21.62 seconds (0.6m/s) while Jaydon Collins of Holmwood Technical ran 21.69 seconds (2.0m/s) and Deandre Myers of Wolmer’s Boys with 22.00 seconds (0.9m/s) also made progress.

Petersfield High’s Usain Bernard who ran 22.04 seconds (0.3m/s) and Azriel Allen of Kingston College who ran 22.05 seconds (0.0m/s) also advanced.

Rusea’s High’s Tiene Barrett was the top qualifier in Class Three, after he ran 22.58 seconds (0.3m/s), Rajaun Romelly of St Jago ran 22.66 seconds (-1.2m/s), Tyler Morgan of Jamaica College ran 22.92 seconds (-0.8m/s) and the Kingston College pair of Emmile Higgins ran 22.94 seconds (-1.2m/s) and Andre Genus ran 22.99 seconds (-1.0m/s), all safely through.

— Paul Reid