McLean, Wallace the toasts of Carifta day two

Foga Road High School’s Shameika McLean and Elite Performance’s Zachary Wallace were in impeccable form in the under-17 girls and under-20 boys’ 400-metre finals at yesterday’s Carifta Trials inside the National Stadium.

It was McLean who set the stage, changing her usual front-running tactics and running from behind with a well-timed finish to produce a massive personal best 53.39 seconds for the win. Danielle Dixon of William Knibb (54.70s) and Chantellee Brown of Clarendon College (56.47s) ended second and third, respectively.

McLean was elated.

“It is amazing. I was a bit nervous at the start, as I wanted a sub-54 seconds, and it came. Big up to my coach Milton Sergeant, my family, and Principal Orette Wallace.”

Wallace, formerly of Maggotty High, staved off good challenges from his rivals in winning the under-20 boys’ title in a personal best 45.77 seconds. It was also a personal best for Junior Gallimore of Hydel, second in 45.87, and Jabari Matheson of William Knibb, third in 45.90.

In the boys’ under-17 event, Diwayne Sharpe of Calabar won in 47.23, finishing ahead of Jason Pitter of Kingston College (47.75s) and Nicholas Jones of Lacovia High, third in 48.72s.

In the girls’ under-20 final, there was a big upset as the late-running Davine Dickenson of Immaculate Conception won in 53.57. Holmwood’s Annastacia Hall ended second in 53.61, with third going to Breana Brown of Excelsior in 53.99.

Field event finals highlighted competition on yesterday’s penultimate day, with former St Catherine High thrower Able Deborah leading the way. Now a student at the University of Minnesota, she captured the under-20 girls’ discus with a distance of 49.86 metres. Marla Kay Lampart of Clarendon College took second with 47.49m and Abigail Bennett of Merl Grove was third with 46.69m.

Zavien Bernard of Hydel picked up her second win of the meet following success in the girls’ under-20 long jump on Friday, with victory in the high jump after clearing the bar at 1.70 metres. Gabrielle Treasure of St Catherine High and Akaylea Brown of Edwin Allen both cleared 1.60m for second and third.

In the under-17 discus, Holmwood Technical’s Dajounae Rudolph won with a distance of 44.73 metres, ahead of Zoey-Ann Plummer of Excelsior with 41.65m.

Dashanelle Clarke of Edwin Allen captured the girls’ under-17 long jump with a distance of 5.67m, with Jowana Pennant of St Catherine High, third with 5.48m.

Joseph Salmon redeemed himself with a big win in the boys’ under-20 discus. After his third-place finish in the shot put on the opening day, he captured the discus with a throw of 63.44 metres. Kamarie Kennedy of Calabar (55.37m) was second, while Javontae Smith of Munro was third with 52.53m.

On the track yesterday, there was preliminary round action in the 200m, 800m and 400m hurdles, with the finals of these events set for today.

Competition on today’s final day will get underway at 10:40 a.m. with the preliminary round of the girls’ under-17 100m hurdles and will end at 6:10 p.m. with the boys’ under-20 110m hurdles final.