Hill sparkles with 12.98s to capture 100m hurdles junior title
Kerrica Hill of Hydel High, with world-leading 12.98 seconds in the 100m hurdles, and Kingston College’s Shaemar Uter, with a 46.09 400m clocking, turned in standout performances as the National Junior Championships concluded at the National Stadium on Sunday.
With the previous world leader Oneka Wilson, with 13.00, failing to start, Hill took charge and lowered her personal best from 13.21 to 12.98 (1.5 m/s). Alexia James of Petersfield High was second with 13.13 as Jamaica now own three of the fastest top four times in the world.
Uter, who is on his way to Texas Tech University, is the fastest Jamaican junior, and is ranked 11th in the world heading into the World Under-20 Championship in Colombia.
Having sped to 20.9 over 200m in training, Uter, went out fast and covered the field quite early, winning easily by city block in a personal best time. Carifta Games champion Delano Kennedy of Edwin Allen High was second in 47.24 and Chevoney Reid of St Andrew Technical High School finished third in 47.49. All three are under the qualifying mark of 47.60. The national Junior record is 44.88 held by Christopher Taylor since 2018.
Rickiann Russell of Holmwood Technical won the girls’ 400m in 54.36 ahead of Alliah Baker of Hydel High in 54.67. Oneika Brissett of Williams Knibb was third in 54.68.
Edwin Allen’s Rushana Dwyer comfortably won the girls’ 800m title in 2:10.83 minutes, repelling the challenge of American-based Samantha Kavanagh of Trinity Elite, who finished second in 2:11.87. Kishay Rowe of Alphansus Davis High was third in 2:13.13.
The boys’ event was dramatic as an entanglement between Omarion Davis and Tafari Hinds of St Jago saw both runners crashing out. Davis was on the inside and, in the process of falling, he held onto the neck of Hinds and both fell off the track.
Davis rejoined the race and again stopped with 350m to go, but then decided to finish. He jogged home in 2:31.35 to loud applause.
The race was won by Barrain Smith of St Elizabeth Technical in 1:53.31, ahead of his teammate Adrian Nethersole in 1:54.37. Trevon Prince of Jamaica College was third in 1:56.74.
World Under-20 triple jump silver medallist and world leader 16-year-old Jaydon Hibbert, with 16.66m, decided to challenge the seniors and won with 16.41m. In his absence, Royan Walters of Petersfield High seized the opportunity to capture gold with 15.42m. The qualifying mark is 15.55m, but Walters did achieve that mark leaping 15.59 in April.
Rajuan Ricketts of Jamaica College was second with 14.85m, while Nicholai Blossom was third with 14.80m.
Dishaun Lamb of Calabar High won the boys’ 110 hurdles in 13.42s, just edging out St Jago’s Jahville Granville in 13.48. Demario Prince, also of St Jago, was third in 13.60.
Alan Reid of Hydel High upset race favourite Tia Clayton of Edwin Allen. Reid won fairly comfortably in 23.19 with Clayton second in 23.41 and Mickaila Haisley third in 23.94.
The impressive Sandrey Davison of St Catherine won the boys’ 200m in 20.84 (-0.1 m/s) ahead of David Lynch of Calabar High in 21.32. Malique Smith-Band of JC was third in 21.46 with KC’s Adrian Kerr easing up and finishing fourth in 21.50.