Record start for Calabar's Taylor

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

CALABAR High School's Class Three athlete, Christopher Taylor, was the star on yesterday's opening day of the Inter-Secondary Schools' Sports Association/ GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, as he broke the first record of the meet while cruising to 48.72 seconds in the preliminary round of the one-lap event.

Running in the first heat, Taylor, who had signalled his intentions several weeks ago at the Corporate Area Development Meet when he became the first Class Three athlete to run sub-49 seconds, was simply fantastic yesterday.

Going out very easy in the early stages, he kicked hard in the final 80 metres for the win and in the process, erased the year-old record of 49.13 seconds set by Kingston College's Nathaniel Bann.

Calabar's Brandon Heath also advanced - as the second fastest qualifier - after winning his heat in 50.60 seconds.

Calabar's perennial rivals at Champs, Kingston College (KC), had only one qualifier as Kadez Sutherland won his heat in 52.43 seconds. St Jago High's Javad Black (52.08) and Gaynstead High's Travis Williams (51.31) were the other top qualifiers.

In Class Two, Devaughn Ellington of Petersfield High is the fastest qualifier with a 49.07-second clocking. Other heat winners include KC's Bann (49.49) and Anthony Carpenter of Calabar High in 49.49 seconds. Other winners were KC's Dontre Williams (49.74), St Jago's Shamar Barnes (50.12), St Elizabeth Technical High School's (STETHS) Leonardo Ledgister (49.87), Manchester High's Carlo Heath (49.90), and Leroy Francis (50.47) of STETHS.

In Class One, St Jago High's Nathon Allen led all qualifiers with 47.57 seconds. He is followed by Lennox Williams (47.66) of Manchester High and Javon Francis (48.04) of Calabar High.

Earlier, there was action in the Class Four girls' 70 metres hurdles and Class Two 80 metres hurdles. But because of limited entries, there was no action for Class Two and Class One girl's 100 metres hurdles. Instead, the first stage of competition for the senior class hurdlers will be the semi-finals. The same applies for the boys, all classes.

In the girls Class Four 70 metres hurdles, the fastest qualifier was Kimone McLeod of St. Jago, who won her heat in 10.76 seconds. Other Heat winners were Winsome Harris (10.82) of St. Elizabeth Technical High School, Tamoya Williams (10.92) of Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha and Rosalee Cooper of St. Andrew High in 10.99.

In Class Three, Carifta Trials Under-18 champion, Manchester High's Sidney Marshall, was the fastest qualifier, winning her heat in 11.45 seconds. Shanette Allison (11.56) of Holmwood Technical, Chrisann Bryan (11.60) of Wolmer's Girls and Ruth Ann Roy (11.85) of Hydel High all won their respective heats.

Following preliminary action in the Class One boys' long jump, Edwin Allen High's Michane Rickettes was the leading qualifier with a mark of 7.24 metres. Also attaining the automatic qualifying standard were Jamaica College's Ajani James (7.20m), Javier Ogilvie (7.17m) of Wolmer's Boys', Ajanai Graham (7.17m of The Manning's School and Kingston College's Sharlanjo Nelson, with 7.04 metres.

Today's Champs Schedule

8:30 a.m. #76 Girls 10-12 Long Jump CLASS 4 Prelims

8:30 a.m. #86 Girls 17-18 Shot Put CLASS 1 Prelims

8:30 a.m. #11 Boys 16-19 Discus Throw CLASS 1 Prelims

8:30 a.m. #38 Decathlon: #1 Boys 14-19 100 metre Dash Finals

8:35 a.m. #68 Girls 13-14 High Jump CLASS 3 Prelims

8:45 a.m. #64 Girls 13-14 800 metre Run CLASS 3 Prelims

9:15 a.m. #26 Boys 10-13 800 metre Run CLASS 3 Prelims

9:55 a.m. #54 Girls 15-16 800 metre Run CLASS 2 Prelims

10:20 a.m. #15 Boys 14-15 800 metre Run CLASS 2 Prelims

10:30 a.m. #38 Decathlon: #2 Boys 14-19 Long Jump Finals

11:00 a.m. #44 Girls 17-18 800 metre Run CLASS 1 Prelims

11:15 a.m. #4 Boys 16-19 800 metre Run CLASS 1 Prelims

1:30 p.m. #70 Girls 13-14 Discus Throw CLASS 3 Prelims

1:30 p.m. #58 Girls 15-16 High Jump CLASS 2 Prelims

1:35 p.m. #72 Girls 10-12 200 metre Dash CLASS 4 Prelims

2:10 p.m. #62 Girls 13-14 200 metre Dash CLASS 3 Prelims

2:45 p.m. #38 Decathlon: #3 Boys 14-19 Shot Put Finals

2:50 p.m. #24 Boys 10-13 200 metre Dash CLASS 3 Prelims

3:25 p.m. #52 Girls 15-16 200 metre Dash CLASS 2 Prelims

3:35 p.m. #30 Boys 10-13 High Jump CLASS 3 Prelims

3:35 p.m. #20 Boys 14-15 Long Jump CLASS 2 Finals

4:10 p.m. #13 Boys 14-15 200 metre Dash CLASS 2 Prelims

4:45 p.m. #42 Girls 17-18 200 metre Dash CLASS 1 Prelims

5:05 p.m. #50 Girls 17-18 Discus Throw CLASS 1 Finals

5:10 p.m. #2 Boys 16-19 200 metre Dash CLASS 1 Prelims

5:30 p.m. #82 Girls 15-16 Shot Put CLASS 2 Finals

5:40 p.m. #38 Decathlon: #4 Boys 14-19 High Jump Finals

5:45 p.m. #78 Girls 13-19 400 metre Hurdles OPEN Prelims

5:55 p.m. #9 Boys 16-19 Long Jump CLASS 1 Finals

6:00 p.m. #33 Boys 14-19 400 metre Hurdles OPEN Prelims

6:20 p.m. #74 Girls 10-12 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 4 Prelims

6:50 p.m. #67 Girls 13-14 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 3 Prelims

7:15 p.m. #29 Boys 10-13 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 3 Prelims

7:45 p.m. #57 Girls 15-16 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 2 Prelims

8:10 p.m. #18 Boys 14-15 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 2 Prelims

8:35 p.m. #47 Girls 17-18 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 1 Prelims

8:50 p.m. #7 Boys 16-19 4x100 metre Relay CLASS 1 Prelims

9:15 p.m. #38 Decathlon: #5 Boys 14-19 400 metre Dash Finals

9:25 p.m. #85 Girls 13-19 2000 metre Steeplechase OPEN Finals

9:40 p.m. #39 Boys 14-19 2000 metre Steeplechase OPEN Finals