National Junior record holder Shaneka Parkes of Holmwood Technical prepares to throw the javelin during yesterday's opening day of the Carifta Games Trials at G.C. Foster College. Parkes threw 46.99 metres to break her own junior mark of 43.38m.
-Ian Allen photo
Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
JUNIOR ATHLETES tuned up for Boys and Girls Championships at next month Carifta Games with some outstanding results on the opening day of the Carifta Trials at G.C. Foster College yesterday.
Leading the way were Shaneka Parkes, Tamara Francis, Judith Riley, Sherene Pinnock, Kayon Thompson and Markino Buckley.
Parkes, last year's Girls Champs silver medallist in the javelin Open was in terrific form as she smashed the old record in the Under-20 Girls' event with a fantastic throw of 46.99 metres, a throw which is also a National Junior Record.
A STRONG MESSAGE
Edwin Allen sent a strong message with Champs just around the corner as the vastly improved Pinnock turned back the challenge of World Youth representative Tashana McGowan of St. Andrew High (58.82), winning in an excellent 58.03 seconds.
Manchester High's Judith Riley, competing in the Under-17 300m hurdles event, also looked awesome in capturing the race in 43.37.
Thompson continued her dominance in the long-distance events as, running with little competition, she clocked 2:05.71 to capture the Under-20 800m ahead of Vanessa Whittle of Tacius Golding (2:09.21).
St. Jago High's Tamara Francis, last year's Carifta Under-17 long jump champion, stepping up in class, had a fantastic leap of 6.17 metres to take the Under-20 event ahead of Holmwood Rosemarie Whyte (6.15m).
Vere Technical Simone Facey, back from injury, captured the Under-20 100m in 11.68 ahead of Holmwood's Tracy-Ann Rowe (11.76) and G.C. Foster College's Jody-Ann Powell (11.81).
Edwin Allen's Kimberly Smith created an upset in the Under-17 event as she won in 12 seconds ahead of Holmwood's Schilaci Calvert (12.02) and Samantha Henry of Queens (12.31).
Camperdown's Renaldo Rose, stepping up to the senior category for the first time this season, proved elusive as he came on strongly at the end to capture the Boy's Under-20 100m event in 10.73. He beat his former teammate Kevin Stewart, now competing for St. Georges College (10.81), and KC's Andre Wellington (10.83).
Jamaica College's Winston Barnes looked good in winning the Under-17 100 metres in 11.01, ahead of Holmwood Technical's Romaldo Turner (11.05).
