#Champs2026: Ryan Achau learns lesson, lands 1500m gold
KINGSTON, Jamaica—After learning his lesson from his disastrous first 1500m race last year, St Jago High’s Ryan Achau produced a masterpiece of middle distance running to win the Boys Class 1 final in fine style on Wednesday’s second day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the national stadium in 3:50.70 seconds.
A year ago, the Kenyan got off to a flying start but was unable to maintain the pace and eventually ended fourth in 4:00.01 seconds.
On Wednesday, he started fast again, but this time he was prepared and won by a wide margin as fellow East African Nahashorn Ruto of Kingston College, who was second in 3:55.91 seconds, with Edwin Allen High’s Joel Morgan taking the bronze in 3:58.20 seconds.
Kingston College’s impressive Julius Itubo smashed his one-year-old record when he ran all by himself to win the Class 3 1500m in 4:00.76 seconds, under the 4:05.15 seconds he set last year.
He was followed home by two Jamaica College runners, Rikardo Lee, 4:18.42 seconds and Ajovi Williams, 4:25.11 seconds.
St Jago High’s Phillip Palmer won the Class 2 gold medal with 4:09.91 seconds, overtaking the early leader Jevaughn Tomlin, 4:10.95 seconds, with Dejaun Gray of STETHS taking third in 4:11.04 seconds.
-Paul A Reid
