By Adrian Robinson, trackalerts.com writer
The curtains came down on the 2014 Jamaica CARIFTA Games Trials at the National Stadium earlier today.
The usual excitement was there for the taking with the girls under 18 100m hurdles living up to expectation. Sidney Marshal of Manchester won with 13.64 ahead of Janeek Brown of Wolmers 13.64. Wolmers Jaheel Hyde was superb gliding to a 13.19 win in the Under-18 boys 110m hurdles. Following closely was Roje Jackson-Chin of St Jago 13.33 into wind reading of -0.01.
On the other hand, the 100m hurdles under 20 girls proved to be a ding dong battle to the line as Holmwood’s World Youth Champion Yanique Thompson’s 13.55 got the better of St Jago’s Peta-Gay Williams who strode to 13.60. Jamaica College Tyler Mason was beyond the field with his 13.46 ahead of STETHS' Marvin Williams, 2nd with 13.78secs, in the Under-20 boys section.
There were mixed feelings going into the 200m sprints. This was due to the absence of World Youth Champion Michael O’Hara, and Mr 10.28, Raheem Chambers, the schoolboy with the leading time time this season.
St Jago’s Chad Walker eased home confidently in 21.25 over Fabian Hewitt of Calabar 21.92 to take the Under-18 section while the boys’ equivalent saw the mercurial Jevaughn Minzie of Bog Walk High stomping is class with 21.14 over the field, which included second place finisher Beresford Sweeney of Ardenne (21.31). The wind reading here was -1.2.
The Under 20 girls race saw the speedy Saqukine Cameron of Edwin Allen taking the top spot in 23.44 over G.C Foster College’s Kedisha Dallas in 24.03. Natalliah Whyte’s 24.28 showed St. Jago's girls will be ready for the sprints at Champs. She won over Edwin Allen's Shellece Clarke’s 24.46 in girls' Under 18 200m.
In the Under 18 girls 1500, Britnie Dixon of Vere 4:37.17 took the top spot ahead of Junelle Bromfield of STETHS 4:40.02. On the boys' side, Shane Buchanan of KC ran 4:05.89 to beat Jauvaney James of STETHS 4:06.93. Spaulding High's Dhadoye Dawson won the under 20 1500 in 3:55.91 ahead of Delano Rochester of 3:58.85.
The 400m closed the show with some fine performances.
Tiffany James of Papine High won with a powerful run of 53.76. Hydel’s Taqece Duggan was second 54:73 for the girls under 18. World Youth champion and St Jago’s Martin Manley journeyed home in a smart 46.51. Then came the long striding Nathaniel Bann of KC 47.24.
The girls under 20 400m was special as out of the blue came Balaclava High Dawnalee Loney 52.87 over favourite Yanique McNeil of Vere with 53 seconds even. The ever improving Nathon Allen stopped the clock with a fast 46.11 to take top honour in the Under-20 boys race. This was a sweet victory for St Jago as they took the double with Ivan Henry ended 2nd with 46.54.
Odain Lewis (Cornwall) took the U20 boys shot put with a throw of 15.86m. Janel Fullerton (Edwin Allen) won the girls' U18 shot put with 14.79m ahead of Geogetta Samuels (Holmwood) 13.11m
