Davison cruises to 200m junior final, hunts sprint sweep
St Catherine High’s Sandrey Davison remains on course to complete the boys’ Under-20 sprint double on today’s final day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Junior Championships after cruising into the 200m final on the third day of action at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Action on today’s final day is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm.
Davison, who won the national 100m crown in exciting fashion on Friday, seemed well refreshed and relaxed as he jogged an easy 21.47 seconds in a tailwind of 1.7 metres per second.
The tall and smooth-striding Davison, who is under the tutelage of Reynaldo Walcott, the coach of the decorated Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, will have a much easier path to victory as his main contender Bryan Levell of Edwin Allen was a no-show.
Also through to the final is Kingston College’s Adrian Kerr, who won his semi-final in 21.25s, which was the fastest time in qualifying.
With her sister Tina Clayton stamping her class on the 100m, Tia will be seeking to do the same in the 200m as she will start favourite in the final of the half-lap event.
Tia, won her semi-final in a comfortable 23.85s to lead the finalists, which includes Hydel’s Alana Reid, who clocked 23.99s in winning her semi-final.
There were no surprises in the boys’ Under-20 110m hurdles semi-final, as St Jago’s Jahvel Granville led qualifiers into today’s final with a 13.53s-clocking. While it was the fastest time of the two semi-finals, Grenville’s execution was by no means smooth and will require some adjustments.
Kalil of University of Iowa (13.57s) and Calabar’s Dishaun Lamb (13.59s) were the next best in qualifying.
Oneika Brissett of William Knibb headlines the finalist for the girls’ 400m, after clocking the fastest time of 54.30s in qualifying. Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell, who won heat two in 54.56s will also be in what should be a highly competitive final, along with and Kaylia Kelly (54.80s) running unattached and Abigail Campbell (55.77s) of Ferncourt High.
Delano Kennedy of Edwin Allen headlines the field on the boys’ side of the 400m, as he was very comfortable in clocking 47.14s in qualifying. Kingston College’s Shaemar Uter (47.68s) was the next best in qualifying with Manchester High’s Shemar Palmer (48.10s) also reserving some amount of energy for the final.
Meanwhile, Calabar’s Kobe Lawrence continued his rich form to crown himself national champion in the boys’ Under-20 discus with a new personal best heave of 62.67m.
With the win, Lawrence further consolidated his spot on the team to Cali, Colombia, as he was already way over the qualifying mark of 56.50m.
Edwin Allen’s Christopher Young, who topped the shot put on Friday, had to settle for second with a heave of 58.47m, while Ricardo Hayles (55.98m) of Clarendon College was third.
Earlier, Vere Technical’s Torian Caven topped the girls’ Under-20 high jump, clearing the bar at 1.75m on her final attempt. Caven, who has a personal best leap of 1.79m, tried but failed in her attempt to make the qualifying mark of 1.81m.
The Edwin Allen pair of Deijanae Bruce and Rasheda Samuels were second and third at 1.70m.
— Sherdon Cowan