Jamaica College (JC) surged to 54 points and established a 16-point lead after eight finals on Wednesday’s second day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championship inside the National Stadium.

St Jago High are sitting in second spot on 38 points, while Calabar High are in third with 36, and defending champions Kingston College (KC) are in fourth on 31. Wolmer’s Boys’ completed the top five with 25 points.

The day was highlighted by a splendid 10.12 seconds (1.2 m/s) by Riquelme Reid of Excelsior High, who captured gold just ahead Tyreece Foreman of St George’s College, who was second in 10.21, for the Class One 100m. Edwin Allen’s Romario Finnigan grabbed the bronze in 10.22 with Sanjay Seymore of William Knibb in 10.30.

Wolmer’s Boys’ captured the quinella in the Class Three 100m courtesy of Ajani Lumley (10.71) and Joshua McWilliams (10.81) for big 16 points. J’Dean Fisher of St Jago was third in 10.83 and KC’s Kemanic Edwards fourth with 11.04.

The impressive Kai Kelly took the Class Two event in a jaw-dropping 10.28 (0.6 m/s), just missing out on the Sachin Dennis’s 2018 record of 10.20. Joshua Ricketts of Calabar was second in 10.42 and Ricardo Mann of Vere Technical was third in 10.44.

KC’s Odane Noble won the first final of the championship, winning the Boys’ Class Two long jump with 7.18m for nine valuable points. Calabar picked up 11 points courtesy of Talshawn Edwards in second with 7.02m and Shamar Shaw with 6.55m in fifth.

Winaldo Faulknor of St Jago High was third with 6.72m and Cornwall College’s Zhi-Hew Whitter fourth with 6.70m. JC’s lone competitor, Nicotroy Green, finished seventh for two points.

KC’s Julius Itubo broke the first record, smashing his Class Three 1500m mark by over four seconds, stopping the clock at 4:00.76.

The Kenyan won by nearly 100m with second placed Rickardo lee of JC way back in 4:18.42, ahead of his teammate Ajovi Williams in 4:25.11.

Phillip Palmer of St Jago took the Class Two 1500m in 4:09.91 ahead of Jevaughn Tomlin of Bellefield High in 4:10.95 and Dejaun Gray of St Elizabeth Technical High with 4:11.04.

JC picked up eight points as Bevin Davey finished fourth in 4:11.64 and his teammate Cavel Nooks finished sixth in 4:12.22. JC was predicted to get 14 points as Nooks was tipped to win. KC and Calabar got no points.

St Jago’s Ryan Achua redeemed himself, winning the Class One 1500m in a very good 3:50.71, the fastest time since Kemoy Campbell set the record of 3:45.54 in 2010.

It was a more restrained effort from the Kenyan but he separated himself from the field with 800m and won easily. KC’s Nahashon Ruto, also of Kenya, was second with a personal best of 3:55.91. Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen was third with 3:58.20.

The stage is set for some epic 400 metres with JC’s setting the way in Class One courtesy of Makaelan Woods entering Thursday’s final with the fastest time of 46.39. His teammate Omary Robinson also qualifies in 46.78, which is the seventh fastest.

William Knibbs’ Jabari Matherson (46.54), Paul Henry of Foga Road High clocked 46.72, Junior Gallimore of Hydel with 46.76, Nishawn Walker of Titchfield High with 46.88, and KC’s Jabulani McLeod with 46.80 will make it one of the best 400m finals in recent years.

The Class Two boys will be just as enticing with defending champion Jason Pitter heading into the final with the third fastest time of 47.24. Calabar’s Diwayne Sharpe eased to the quickest time of 46.90 with Excelsior’s Jaden Campbell stopping the clock at 47.13.

The JC duo of 12-year-old Jayden White (50.62) and Tariq Creary (51.43) are the first- and third-fastest into the final. KC’s Taariq Gordon (51.30) is the second quickest, while his teammate Maleeq Fellows sneaked in as one of the fastest losers with 51.58 after finishing fourth in his semis.

Odane Noble of Kingston College competes in the Class 2 Boys’ long jump final during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Wednesday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Jamaica College’s Kai Kelly (left) races to victory in the Class 2 Boys’ 100m final during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Wednesday. Also pictured are St Elizabeth Technical’s Ajannie Kelly (centre) and Javane Clayton of Calabar High. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)