Defending champions Kingston College (KC) showed the first crack in their armour when Omarion Miller failed to make the long jump final, while Jamaica College (JC) were near perfect on the opening day of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

Miller, who was fourth last year in Class Two after entering with the best jump, again found it difficult when it mattered, as he could only muster 3.90m on his first jump and fouled on his next two.

Miller was the Corporate Area champion with 7.30m in the absence of JC’s Michael-Andre Edwards, who contested the triple jump then. Edwards, now back in the long jump, leads all qualifiers with 7.53m.

KC’s Amani Phillips was second best with 7.04m and JC’s teammate Jaivar Cato was third best with 6.94m.

Calabar High’s Talshawn Edwards leapt 6.90m, which was the best in Class Two heading into the final.

Zhi-Hew Witter of Cornwall College was second best with 6.68m, ahead of Winaldo Faulknot of St Jago High with 6.58 and KC’s Odane Noble with 6.55m.

Overall, it was a good day for Jamaica College as they outnumbered Kingston College six to three in the semis and final of the 1,500 metres in all classes.

KC’s Julius Itubo was quickest in the Class Three 1,500m, clocking 4:15.25. He was followed by the JC pair of Rickardo Lee, who won his heat in 4:19.73, and Ajovi Williams, who was second to Itubo in 4:31.60.

KC’s Jahmario Dawkin was seventh in heat two in 4:40.33 and failed to advance.

In Class Two, JC’s Cavel Nooks was quickest with 4:16.42 ahead of Luke Plummer of Sydney Pagon with 4:16.51. JC’s second runner, Bevin Davey, was third in heat two with 4:18.67 and advanced. Excelsior High’s Keniel Daniels won in 4:17.75. KC’s Jelani Brown squeezed into the final with the 11th-best time of 4:18.06. His teammate, Oneil Heron, failed to make it through, running 4:46.40.

In Class One, 1,500m KC’s Nasharon Ruto was fastest with 4:07.97 ahead of last year’s silver medallist Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen High in 4:07.98. Dujhauntai Lewis of Calabar won heat one in 4:14.26. He was just ahead of Ryan Achua of St Jago in 4:14.38 and Justin Webb of Calabar in 4:09.22.

Darrian Francis of Lacovia High was fastest in Class Three 400m, winning heat six in 51.12. KC’s Taariq Gordon won heat one in 51.34, while JC’s Tariq Creary took Heat Two in 51.81.

One of the races of the event is shaping up in the Class Two 400m. Defending champion Jason Pitter of KC jogged to 49.86, before his main rival Diwayne Sharpe of Calabar bounced home in 49.49. Jaeden Campbell of Excelsior High, regarded as a dark horse in the event, looked effortless in 49.66.

But the fastest qualifier was Nichoals Jones of Lacovia High who stopped the clock at 48.83.

The Class One 400m will be interesting as the main protagonists all looked good in the semi-finals. Nishawn Walker of Titchfield High won heat one in 47.59, which was the fastest on the day. He edged a relaxed Junior Gallimore of Hydel High in 47.77.

JC’s Makaelan Woods did 47.60 and his teammate Omary Wiliamson cruised to 48.32 as did Jabari Matherson of Williams Knibb in 47.68.

The 100m fireworks started late in the evening as the Class One boys were stepping in the 100m with Romario Finnigan of Edwin Allen surprising with a splendid 10.18 (1.5 m/s). He had Sanjay Seymore of William Knibb well beaten in second with 10.47.

Johan-Ramaldi Smythe of Holland High showed that he is in good nick, speeding to 10.24, while favourite Riquelme Reid of Excelsior was relaxed in 10.32, and KC’s Nyron Wade looked to have more in the tank, winning his heat in 10.33.

Malike Nugent won heat six in 10.27 as did Kenrick Austin of Edwin Allen High in Heat Eight. Calabar’s Carifta Games champion Jamal Stephenson pulled up in Heat Seven won by Kenrick Sharpe of St Mary Technical in 10.31.

The semi-finals and finals on Wednesday night will be hot in what is looking like the deepest 100m field in years.

In Class Two, Marquies Page of St Jago threw down the gauntlet, speeding to 10.47 and pulled Andre Genus of KC to 10.57, but with a wind reading of +2.6 m/s, making the time illegal and will not register as a personal best.

Ricardo Mann of Vere Technical won heat seven in 10.57, while Kai Kelly looked comfortable in registering 10.72. The Calabar pair of Joshua Ricketts (10.63) and Javane Clayton (10.77) qualified easily.

KC’s Kemanic Edwards looked awesome, recording the fastest time in Class Three when he stopped the clock at 11.06 (1.6 m/s). The Wolmer Boys pair of Joshua McWilliams (11.10) and race favourite Ajani Lumley (11.38) are safely through, as did the JC pair of Adrain Phillip (11.35) and Deandre Parker (11.47). Jaden Fisher of St Jago was the third fastest with 11.15.

St George’s College’s Malique Cunningham (left) and Jamaica College’s Oneil Lawrence compete in the 400m hurdles heat during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Tuesday. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)