KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kingston College’s Nahashon Ruto and Edwin Allen High’s Joel Morgan gave a glimpse of what is to come later at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium after they crossed the line virtually together in the first round of the Class 1 1500m on Tuesday.

Both athletes, who are also expected to clash over the 800m, separated themselves from the field in the second semi-final where Ruto was timed in 4:07.97 and Morgan in 4:07.98.

Calabar High’s Justin Webb won the first semi-final in 4:09.22 while Bellefield High’s Roquelme Johnson- 4:10.16 and Raheem Palmer of Alphansus Davis who ran 4:10.82 also advanced.

The Jamaica College pair of Shemar Green- 4:14.80 and Carlos Brison-Caines- 4:11.03 also made progress.

Cavel Nooks of Jamaica College left nothing to chance as he led the Class 2 qualifying with  4:16.42, ahead of Luke Plummer of Sydney Pagon STEM Academy who ran 4:16.51 followed by Bellefield High’s Jevaughn Tomlin- 4:16.67 and St Jago High’s Phillip Palmer- 4:16.72.

Denbigh High’s Markland Williams- 4:17.36 and Excelsior High’s Keniel Daniels- 4:17.75 also qualified for the final.

Kingston College’s Julius Itubo is the red hot favourite to retain his Class 3 championship and led the qualifying with 4:15.25, well ahead of the Jamaica College pair of Rikardo Lee-4:19.73 and Ajovi Williams- 4:31.60.

Holmwood Technical’s Joshua Pryce ran 4:31.62 and Calabar High’s Bryan Stewart also qualified with 4:33.48.

—    Paul A Reid