Cameron, O'Hara double at trials

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

UNDER-17 athletes Sequkine Cameron of Edwin Allen High and Calabar High's Michael O'Hara stole the spotlight on yesterday's final day of the two-day Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA)/Burger King Carifta Trials at the Stadium East track, as both athletes won their 200-metre events to close the meet as double winners.

Cameron, who was missing in action last year due to an injury, followed her upset win in the girls' under-17 100 metres on Saturday's opening day with an even more impressive win yesterday, as she stopped the clock at 24.24 seconds in a negative wind speed of 3.7 seconds. Second was the talented Aneka Brissett of Eltham High in 24.82 seconds, and Renée Smith of the Convent of Mercy Alpha Academy, was third in 25.19.

Cameron, one of the best high-school curve runners, was impressive on the bend and moved away from her rivals.

" I feel very excited and despite the strong wind blowing in my face and with no one able to push me, I am still happy that I was able to run a fast time and I am looking forward to 'Champs'," said Cameron.

O'Hara also scored a convincing win. Competing in the boys' under-17 110 metres hurdles, he was very smooth and relaxed throughout, as he led early and maintained good form to win impressively in 14.39 seconds, running in a negative wind of 3.6mps. Wolmer's Boys' Jaheel Hyde (14.70) and St Elizabeth Technical High School's Maurice McIntosh (14.83) finished second and third, respectively.

O'hara ON A ROLL

O'Hara had already won the under-17 boys' 100 metres on Saturday.

National junior representatives Shericka Jackson of Vere Technical and Odail Todd of Green Island took the under-20 200 metres.

In the girls' event, Jackson, a bronze medallist at the World Youth Championships last year, showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to win going away in 23.75 seconds, in -2.5mps wind. Edwin Allen's Shawnette Lewin was second in 24.25, with Clarendon College's Shimarya Williams third in 25.18.

After skipping the boys' under-20 100 on Saturday, World Youth champion, Todd, did most of his work early and went through the motions in the final 20 metres to stop the clock at 21.56 seconds, in -3.5mps wind. Jevaughn Minzies of Bog Walk High (21.71) and Tyquando Tracey (21.97) of Garvey Maceo were second and third, respectively.

There were two major upsets yesterday, one in the field and one on the track in under-20 events among the boys. Munro College's Emmanuel Onyia put the brakes on the Calabar High duo of Ashinia Miller and Federick Dacres in the shot put. Onyia threw 19.00m to relegate Miller into second with 18.32m and Dacres, third, with 18.09m.

Kingston College's top sprint hurdler, Stefan Fennell, suffered his first defeat of the season, playing second fiddle to Wolmer's Boys' Yanick Hart in the under-20 110m hurdles. Hart won in 14.14 seconds in-3.0mps wind. Fennell was second in 14.16, while Manchester High's Omar McLeod ended third in 14.25.

The experienced Chrisdale McCarthy overcame young Peta-gaye Williams of Camper-down High in the girls' under-20 100 metres hurdles that was contested in -2.6 mps. World Youth finalist McCarthy prevailed in 14.00 seconds ahead of Williams, 14.22. Edwin Allen's Keenan Davis was third in 14.37. St Andrew High's Megan Simmonds, also a finalist at last year's World Youth Champs, was fourth in 14.60.

Carifta under-17 champion Yanique Thompson stayed on course to retain her title next month in Bermuda as competing in a negative wind of 3.4mps, she spreadeagled her rivals to win easily in 14.15. St Jago's Tishana Montieth (15.19) was second, with 300m hurdles winner Andrenette Knight of Vere third in 15.39.

The expected clash between Vere's Olivia James and Holm-wood's Chrisann Gordon did not materialise in the girls' under-20 400m. Gordon failed to finish as she had hamstring problems in the first 110 metres and had to stop. James went on to win in 54.12, with Genekee Leith of St Jago second in 54.50. Petersfield High's Asaine Hall was third in 54.69.

Vere Technical's athletes swept the female one-lap event as Yanique McNeil (54.65) seconds won the under-17 400m ahead of Hydel's Semoy Hemmings (55.26).

In the boys' under-20 400m, Lennox Williams of Manchester clocked 47.09 to beat Calabar High's Jovan Francis (47.70). In the under-17 event, Jamaica College Devaughn Baker won in 48.29 seconds, while St Jago's Ivan Henry was second in 48.46 seconds.

- L.L.