Jaj-Marques White of Kingston College (KC) and Shevaughn Thomas of Vere Technical won the Boys’ and Girls’ Under-20 400m finals on the second and penultimate day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Carifta Trials at GC Foster College in Spanish Town on Saturday.
White, who has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, delivered a commanding performance to secure the Boys’ Under-20 title. Clocking a personal best of 46.15 seconds, he improved on his previous mark of 47.73, set on March 30, 2023. His KC teammate, Marcinho Rose, the reigning Boys’ Class One 400m champion from the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships, placed second in 46.40. Excelsior High’s Daniel Wright took third in 46.50.
Vere's Shevaughn Thomas celebrates after winning the Girls' Under-20 400m.
In the Girls’ Under-20 final, Thomas edged Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright to win in 53.60 seconds. Wright finished just behind in 53.66, while her teammate Annastacia Hall secured third in 54.33.
Rushaine Richards of St Jago High claimed the Boys’ Under-17 400m title in a tightly contested race, crossing the line in 48.21 seconds, the same time recorded by runner-up Diwayne Sharpe of Calabar. Chanton Whyte of Denbigh High finished third in 49.34.
In the Girls’ Under-17 final, Shameika McLean of Foga Road won in 54.47 seconds. Holmwood’s Tracy-Ann Evans placed second in 54.84, with teammate Maddison Campbell third in 54.95.
Kevongaye Fowler of Edwin Allen High secured the Girls’ Under-17 1500m title in 4:46.13, continuing her strong form after winning the Class Two event at the Central Athletics Championships on February 19. Teammate Denique Palmer placed second in 4:47.36, sealing a one-two finish for Edwin Allen.
In the Boys’ Under-17 1500m, Carvel Nooks of Jamaica College (JC) took the title in 4:16.91, finishing ahead of teammate Bevin Davey, who clocked 4:17.81.
Cindy Rose of Holmwood Technical, who recently broke the Girls’ Class One 1500m record at the Central Athletics Championships, won the Girls’ Under-20 1500m in 4:43.20. Edwin Allen’s Sushana Johnson finished second in 4:44.79.
Edwin Allen’s Joel Morgan claimed the Boys’ Under-20 1500m title in 4:03.29, narrowly edging Bellefield High’s Roquelme Johnson, who clocked 4:03.93.
Meanwhile, Jaime-Lee Tulloch of Immaculate Conception and Kamari Kennedy of Calabar secured double victories at the meet.
Tulloch won the Girls’ Under-17 discus with a throw of 42.44m, following her shot put triumph (12.27m) the previous day. Davieka Lewis of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) took second in the discus with 40.70m, while Holmwood Technical’s Dajounae Rudolph placed third with 40.50m.
Shamoya Morris of Edwin Allen dominated the Girls’ Under-20 discus with a throw of 51.06m. Clarendon College’s Marla-Kay Lampart, who won the shot put on Friday, finished second with 50.89m, while Excelsior’s Gianna Clayton was third with 48.52m.
Kennedy followed up his Boys’ Under-17 shot put victory on Friday with a dominant win in the discus, throwing 59.78m. Munro College’s Brandon Lawrence placed second with 46.69m, while Cornwall College’s Junior Wright finished third with 45.44m.
JC’s Joseph Salmon won the Boys’ Under-20 discus with a throw of 54.53m, ahead of Munro College’s Devonte Edwards, who registered 53.30m.
Tshani Armstrong of St Catherine High secured victory in the Girls’ Under-17 long jump with a leap of 5.37m, finishing ahead of Holmwood’s Tiyana Peart (5.30m).
Danielle Noble of Wolmer’s Girls cleared 1.78m to win the Girls’ Under-20 high jump, with Shanniqua Williams of St Andrew High School matching the height for second place.
Chavez Penn of JC claimed the Boys’ Under-20 high jump title, clearing 2.18m, while KC’s Aaron McKenzie placed second with 2.05m.
The JAAA Carifta Trials serve as the selection meet for Jamaica’s team to the Carifta Games, scheduled for April 19-21 in Trinidad and Tobago.
