Vere Technical’s Ramona Freemantle and Edwin Allen High’s Deonjah Shaw both qualified for two finals in the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium. Both ad
vanced in the Girls’ Class 1 discus throw and the javelin Open.

Freemantle, who was fifth in the discus throw final last year with 48.21m, threw 48.32m on Tuesday’s first day of the 2026 edition after fouling her first attempt.

Three other throwers needed just one throw to get an automatic spot — Abigail Bennett (46.39m) of Merl Grove High, Marla-Kay Lampart (46.24m) of Clarendon College and Freemantle’s teammate Gabriel Merchant (46.06m).

Shaw booked her spot with 45.42m, while Jada Francis (44.75m) of Immaculate Conception and Rehanna Biggs (43.19m) of St Jago High also advanced.

Earlier, a pair of medallists from last year’s staging qualified for the final of the Girls’ Open javelin.

Immaculate Conception’s defending champion Zoelle Jamel threw 43.24m, and Freemantle recorded 39.15m to book spots.

Holmwood Technical’s Shamanda Wilmott, who was 17th overall last year, led the qualifying with 44.65m.

Edwin Allen High’s Angel Robinson and Immaculate Conception’s Dacia McDonald, who were both finalists last year, are also through to the final, along with the St Jago High duo of Kris-Ann-Tai Byfield and Rihanna Anderson.

Edwin Allen’s Shaw was the 11th best performer in the preliminaries with 28.04m.

Hydel High’s Zavien Bernard, last year’s silver medallist, leads the qualifying for the Girls’ Class 2 long jump after posting a 5.64m (1.3m/s) in the prelims.

After fouling her first attempt, Bernard produced the biggest jump of the round, surpassing the automatic qualifying mark of 5.55m.

Campion College’s Stefvanco Henry was next best with 5.59m (1.3m/s), followed by Edwin Allen’s Karee Tape, who registered 5.51m (1.m/s) and Rajana Price of Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha), who leapt to 5.47m (0.6m/s).

Western Champsionships triple gold medallist Malia Housen of Mount Alvernia High is also through with 5.28m (1.6m/s), along with Ashley Barrett of Immaculate Conception and the Vere Technical pair of Xiah Tobias and Jenoya Mesquito.

Clarendon College’s Jamelia Young will try to defend her Girls’ Class 2 shot put title, despite only throwing 12.75m in Tuesday’s prelims. Her effort was eighth best on the day.

Holmwood led with 13.80m, followed by Excelsior High’s Alyssa Forrster (13.42m), Immaculate Concention’s Remesha Duxon (13.38m) and Edwin Allen throwers Shandre Brown and Fabiana Perry.

— Paul A Reid

Ramona Freemantle of Vere Technical