Vere girls shine at Camperdown Classic

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

VERE Technical's girls were the most dominant among high schools at Saturday's Camperdown Classic, the second leg of the Digicel Grand Prix Athletic Series at the National Stadium.

The John Mair-coached team won both the Under-19 and Under-16 800 metres, the Under-19 100m and 4x400m Open.

Sasha Gaye Whyte took the Class One 800m in 2:13.74, with Camika Witter of St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) second in 2:14.12, while Derriann Hill (2:14.95) and Shanice Clarke (2:16.49) of Vere were third and fourth, respectively.

In Class Two, Britnie Dixon made it two from two for the Clarendon-based school, winning in 2:15.68 ahead of Mavis Bank High's Latrine McGann, 2:20.27. Vere's Monique Campbell (2:25.63) and Kacyann Plummer (2:26.66) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Class One sprinter Renae Medley gave Vere their third individual Grand Prix win on the day, capturing the Class One 100m in 11.74 seconds. St Jago High's Shanice Reid took second in 11.90 seconds, with St Catherine's Carmella Griffiths third in 12.06.

Vere closed off the day in style, taking the Grand Prix's 4x400m in 3:44.90. St Andrew High were second in 3:51.10, with Camperdown High third in 3:59.93.

St Jago's Shaniel English was also a Grand Prix winner, capturing the Girl's Class Two 100 metres in 11.74 seconds. Her teammate, Safia Thompson, was second in 12.05 seconds.

Calabar High continued to do well among the boys, with Michael O'Hara leading the way by scoring back-to-back wins in the Class One 100m, with a 10.47-second clocking. Devaughn Baker of Jamaica College (JC) finished second overall in 10.57, with St Jago's Nathan Allen third in 10.60. Calabar's Julian Walker clocked 10.62 for fourth.

Calabar's Tyreke Wilson stayed in close touch with leader Jhevaughn Matherson (Kingston College) in the Under-18 boys' 100m. With Matherson doing duties at the Milo Western Relays in Montego Bay, Wilson won the Class Two 100m in 10.65 seconds. His teammates, Dejour Russell and Alex Robinson, both clocked 10.82 for second and third, respectively.

Malik Smith of JC captured the Class Two Grand Prix 80m in 1:57.59, getting the better of St Jago's Leone Clarke, 1:57.62. Damon Boyd of KC was third with 2:00.02.

Manchester High's Daniel Winter took the boys' Class One 800m in 1:55.28, getting the better of Mona High's Rojaire Bingham, 1:55.40, with JC's SheMair Walker (1:55.57) third.

St Jago claimed the final Grand Prix event on the programme, the 4x400m, clocking 3:14.92 to turn back JC, 3:14.94.

The Grand Prix series will continue on Thursday with the Digicel Anthrick Corporate Area Development Track and Field Meet at the National Stadium, which gives athletes another chance to qualify for the Digicel Grand Prix Athletic Series finale, the G.C. Foster Classics, to be held at the St Catherine-based institution on March 24.