Despite breaking the boys’ Class One 400m hurdles meet record at the Youngster Goldsmith Classics at the National Stadium on Saturday, Kingston College’s (KC) Antonio Forbes says that he could have run a lot faster in the event.

Forbes clocked 52.40 to win the event, erasing the previous time of 52.59. St Elizabeth Technical’s High School (STETHS) Shamer Blake, who also dipped below the previous record, was second in 52.46, while Jaheene Bell from St Jago was third in 53.17.

Forbes, who has a personal best time of 50.48, told the Jamaica Observer that he is delighted with the record but was disappointed with the time.

“I am excited that I broke the record and I expected that I would do it because that was my goal before the week started,” said Forbes.

“However, I am a bit disappointed with the time that I got because I wanted to run a lot faster at this meet and at this point of the season; I think the time should be a lot faster heading to Champs next month.

“I think at this point last year I was in about [51-second] shape and so there is still some work that I have to do in training before Champs,” he said.

The 18-year-old Forbes, who finished third in the event at last year’s Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), pointed out that his build-up to next month’s highly anticipated event has been going well and he is hoping to remain injury-free for the remainder of his campaign.

“The preparation has been going smoothly because I am back to normal in training because the aim to take the gold medal and record at Champs this year,” he said.

“But running this time, it will help to lift my confidence, and so it is up from here on for me into Champs next month,” Forbes added.

Meanwhile, Jamaica College’s (JC) DeAndre Gayle also broke the boys’ Class Two 400m hurdles record with a time of 54.49. He erased the previous time of 54.79. Calabar’s Raquel Reid, who also dipped below the previous record, was second in 54.57, while third went to his teammate Junior Gallimore in 55.19.

Edwin Allen’s Bryan Levell won the boys Class One 400m time final in 48.05 ahead of his teammate Delano Kennedy 48.07, while third went to KC’s Amal Glasgow in 48.17.

Kacian Powell from Edwin Allen won the girls’ Class One equivalent in 56.38 ahead of Shanque Williams from STETHS (57.19) and Kishay Rowe (57.26) from Alphansus Davis High School.

Florence Nafamba from Holmwood Technical won the girls’ 2,000m steeplechase open with a time of 7:10.22, ahead of Kaydeen Johnson, unattached, with 7:17.62 and Sanyae Gibson from Edwin Allen 7:20.05.

— Robert Bailey