National champions Edwin Allen High School and Kingston College (KC) dominated the Douglas Forrest Invitational meet at GC Foster College in Spanish Town on Saturday.
Edwin Allen, which will be searching for their ninth straight title and 10th overall at this year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, secured nine victories including five one-two finishes.
Two of Edwin Allen’s one-two finishes came in the 800-metre events where the Michael Dyke-coached team secured a clean sweep.
In Class One, Amoya Jameison secured the victory in two minutes 15.23 seconds ahead of teammate Rickeshia Simms (2:15.83). St Mary High School’s Shone Walters had to settle for third in 2:15.84.
In Class Two, Rhianna Gayle stamped her authority with a decent 2:18.10 to beat her teammates Monique Stewart (2:18.78) and Horecia Love (2:25.59).
Kevongayle Fowler captured the Class Three title in 2:25.99. St Jago High’s Kededra Coombs (2:27.73) and St Catherine High’s Cecillia Moses (2:28.09) finished second and third, respectively.
Edwin Allen also dominated the 1500-metre events, winning two of the three races.
Rickeshia Simms led home an Edwin Allen’s clean sweep in Class One. Simms completed the victory in 5:04.17 ahead of Leanna Lewis (5:04.78) and Sanyae Gibson (5:05.21).
In Class Two, Stewart – who had earlier finished second in the 800m behind the impressive Gayle – easily won the 1500m in 5:03.99. It was a one-two finish for Edwin Allen as Gayle finished second in 5:06.03. Vere Technical’s LaTany Johnson was third in 5:09.28.
St Jago High dominated Class Three. Kededra Coombs won in 5:22.08 ahead of teammates Jada Fletcher (5:23.99), Tashalee Palmer (5:27.87), and Gabrielle Woolley (5:31.05).
Mt Alvernia High’s Carleta Bernard and St Elizabeth Technical High School’s Habiba Harris were dominant over the 200 metres.
With a wind reading of negative 3.2 metres per second in the second heat of Class One, Bernard won in 24.76 seconds, easily the fastest time over the heats.
Edwin Allen’s Natasha Fox, who won heat two in 25.15 (-2.2 m/s) finished second overall. Vere Technical’s Moya Mitchell, who finished second behind Bernard in heat two had to settle for third overall in 25.25.
Competing in a negative wind of 2.0 metres per second in heat three of the Class Two 200m, Harris got home in 24.86 to secure the fastest time over the heats.
St Jago High’s Kryshell Hoolong, who won heat seven in 25.21 (-3.4 m/s), clinched second place overall.
Immaculate Conception High School’s Shevi-Anne Shin, who was second behind Hoolong, finished third overall in 25.62.
Excelsior High’s Janelia Williams, 25.29 (-2.9 m/s), and Immaculate Conception High’s Kayla Johnson, 25.98 (-3.1 m/s) won Classes Three and Four, respectively.
Edwin Allen also secured two victories on the field. Rochele Solmon won the Class One shot put with an effort of 13.24m while Shamoyea Morris (43.40m) got the better of her teammate Dionjah Shaw (42.98m) in the Class Two discus throw.
KC, which dethroned Jamaica College at last year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships to win their second title in three years and 33 overall, had five victories at the development meet.
Among KC’s five victories was a one-two finish in the 5000m open courtesy of the school’s Kenyan athletes.
Ethan Gioka, who romped to victory in the event at last year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, continued his good form at GC Foster College to secure the win in a decent 15:40.16.
Brian Kiprop finished second in 16:34.45 while Charlemont High’s Kemar Vernon (17:55.76) was well beaten into third place.
KC were also dominant in the 200 metres, which were all competed in negative winds.
In Class Three, Ashane Benjamin won section five in 23.67 (-3.2 m/s), easily the fastest over the heats.
Excelsior High’s Michael Graham, who won heat seven in 24.03 (-2.5 m/s), had to second for second place overall while KC’s Joshua Spence, the heat two winner in 24.06 (-3.0 m/s) clinched third place overall.
Shavaughn Brown was the fastest over the heats in Class Two with 22.96 (-2.5 m/s). Wolmer’s Boys’ Ainsley McGregor, 22.98 (-2.8 m/s), and STETHS’ Sawyane Kerr, 22.99 (-2.9 m/s) finished second and third, respectively.
The impressive Shamer Blake of STETHS prevented a KC’s clean sweep in the 200m.
Blake, who posted 21.76 seconds (-2.8 m/s) in the opening section, just managed to secure the fastest time over the heats ahead of KC’s Adrian Kerr, who easily took section eight in 21.79 (-2.2 m/s).
Earlier, Excelsior swept the 400m hurdles.
Demarco Bennett won Class Two in 56.24 ahead of Cornwall College’s Mario Birch (56.65) and STETHS’ James McLeod (59.35).
In Class One, Daniel Wright won in 53.48 to beat his teammates Rajawn Davis (53.91) and Richard Hall (54.24).
In the 800 metres, Dinthill Technical’s Seon Booker produced a decent 1:56.84 in Class One to beat KC’s Jaquan Coke (1:57.40) and Foga Road High’s Franklyn Taylor (1:57.61).
Edwin Allen High’s Joel Morgan (2:02.40) and St Mary High’s Rasheed Grant (2:06.95) were easy winners in Classes Two and Three, respectively.
