Cole on the double in first meet of the season

EDWIN ALLEN High School’s Serena Cole got her 2023 athletics season off to a fine start, claiming a sprint and long-jump double at yesterday’s staging of the 29th Purewater JC/R. Danny Williams Meet at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College (JC). Cole was best overall in the Class One 100 metres, clocking 11.58 seconds. Her leap of 5.58 metres in the long jump was also the best of the day.

Cole, the world Under-20 100-metre silver medallist when she clocked 11.14 seconds to finish second behind former teammate, Tina Clayton in Cali, Colombia, last summer, had mixed feelings about her opening performances.

“I am happy for both wins, a little disappointed with my mark in the long jump but, as the season goes on, I will get much better. [I] could have gone much faster in the 100 metres but, for the time being, I am satisfied with the win and result,” said Cole, who is expected to be the flag-bearer of her team, which is seeking its eighth title in a row and ninth overall at this year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).

STILL EARLY DAYS

Though competition in track and field is still early, there were some good results. Besides Cole, there were two other sub-12 second clockings over the 100 metres, with Mickayala Graham of Wolmer’s Girls’ finishing behind Cole in 11.91 seconds, while Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia High stopped the clock in 11.92 to top the Class Two athletes.

Following fourth-place finishes at Champs last year in both the Class One 800 and 1500 metres, Alphonsus High’s Kishay Rowe gave an early warning that she will be the one to beat in both.

Rowe captured the double yesterday, with her best effort coming in the 800, racing to a record two minutes, 13.37 seconds (2:13.37) before returning to take the 1500 metres in 4:58.78.

There was also double success for Edwin Allen High in middle distance events, with Monique Stewart winning the Class Two 800 metres in 2:19.83 and the 1500 in 5:14.09.

Not to be outdone, Wolmer’s Girls’ were also on the double with Tiana Marshall winning the Class Three 100 metres in 12.37 seconds and the 80-metre hurdles in 11.66.

Athletes from Immaculate Conception High School also had good showings. In the Class One 100-metre hurdles, Essence Burbridge, after her third-place finish in the Class One 100 in 12.21 seconds, returned to win in 14.55. Burbridge’s teammate, Grace Mahabeer, was second best in 14.61 seconds.

There was also a quinella for Immaculate in the Class Four 100 metres, with Kayla Johnson winning in 12.58 seconds ahead of teammate Naje Brown, second in 13.05.

The Immaculate girls also had success in the javelin throw open and discus Class Three. In the javelin, Jamel Zoelle won with 33.29 metres, while, in the discus, Jamie Lee Tulloch took top spot with a mark of 27.03 metres. Zoelle was third with 25.86 metres.

The high-school athletics season will continue this Saturday with two development meets. The JAAA /Puma Fuller meet will return to the Kirkvine field in Manchester, while the Douglas Forrest Invitational will be held at G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport. Both begin at 8:30 a.m.