KINGSTON, Jamaica — Defending champion Kevongaye Fowler of Edwin Allen High is on course to defend her Girls Class 2 1500m title after an easy qualification on Tuesday’s opening session of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

Fowler cruised to a second-placed finish in her heat in 5:07.92 behind Keyah Anderson of the Queens School who topped the qualification with 5:07.00.

Sydney Pagon STEM Academy’s Alexia Palmer, silver medallist in Class3 last year, ran 5:08.06 with Immaculate Conception’s Netanya Robinson-5:08.63 and Alphansus Davis’ Tambbrel Williams- 5:09.76.

Holmwood Technical’s Ashley Shepherd  won the other qualifying heat with 5:15.30 ahead of St Elizabeth Technical’s Shameika Dennis, second with 5:17.16, and Dallia Fairweather of Hydel High third with 5:18.76.

Edwin Allen High suffered their first setback of the championships as defending champion Aneka Lowe failed to get into the final of the Class 3 1500m, finishing 13th overall, outside of the top six despite running 5:12.11.

Danoya Scott of Convent of Mercy Alpha Academy topped the qualifying with 4:55.55 to win the second heat ahead of Shannaya Palmer of St Jago High- 4:56.73 and Alexjordan Hall of Clarendon College who ran 4:59.17.

Holmwood Technical’s Felicia Compass won the first heat in 5:00.55 ahead of Manchester High’s Shawntaesha Gooden-5:08.86  and Kayanna Douglas of Alphansus Davis 5:03.54.

— Paul A Reid