Blake bags another big win for STETHS
Published:Saturday | April 1, 2023 | 1:24 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
As the 2023 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships inside the National Stadium moves into its final day of competition, day four served up some enthralling performances.
In one of the day’s most notable performances, St Elizabeth Technical’s (STETHS) Shamer Blake powered to victory in the Class One boys’ 400 metres hurdles final. Blake took the lead early and then had to fight off stern challenges from Edwin Allen High’s Tyrece Hyman and Kingston College’s Antonio Forbes.
Blake crossed the line in 50.76 seconds, Hyman, 51.04, and Forbes in a time of 51.09.
Over in Class Two, Jamaica College kept defending champions Kingston College in their sights as they scored big championship points by securing the gold medal on the back of Deandre Daley’s stellar performance. Daley had to fight all the way to keep ahead of rivals Requel Reid of Calabar and Kingston College’s Jordan Taylor.
Daley clocked 52.75 seconds while silver medalist Reid crossed the line in 53.24 and Taylor in 53.70.
Kingston College’s Amani Phillip was eager to return the coveted trophy to North Street as he leapt to a distance of 6.53 metres to grab gold in the Class Three boys’ long jump. Excelsior High’s Michael Graham had to play second fiddle with a best of 6.33m while Calabar’s Richard Green took bronze covering with 6.25m.
Green’s teammate Kobe Lawrence, still reeling from his second-place finish in Thursday’s discus final, has progressed through to today’s final of the Class One boys’ shot put. He took just one throw to earn an automatic spot with his 18.47m mark ahead of rival Raquil Broderick of Jamaica College who also booked his spot with a 17.36m throw.
The title-chasing Jamaica College will hope their top man Malique Smith-Band will carry over his top form into today’s final of the Class One 200m as he leads the field with the quickest time of 21.48m. Over in Class Two, Wolmer’s Boys’ Ainsley McGregor carries their hopes as he leads that category with a time of 22.02 going into the final. In Class Three, leaders Kingston College’s Jordan Rehedul with 23.34 leads all qualifiers.
Rehedul’s teammate Nicardo Clarke had his suspension overturned after news emerged that he was barred from competing at the championships after his scuffle following the Class Two 100m final.
Action will begin at 1 p.m. on today’s final day with Kingston College in the lead with 190 points, followed by Jamaica College on 160 and Calabar on 91.