Cedricka Williams set a massive new record in the Class I Girls discus competition.
On a historic second day of the 2023 ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships when Jamaica witnessed a Jamaican schoolboy break 10 seconds in the 100m and a schoolgirl ran under 11 seconds in the blue-ribbon event, another two records were broken on what proved to a thrilling days of performances.
Chief among them was Holmwood Technical’s Cedricka Williams, who broke the Class 1 Girls discuss throw with a new mark of 57.84m. It was the third time that the record was being broken during the championships.
During the preliminaries on Tuesday, Williams threw 53.22m to break former Edwin Allen standout Fiona Richards' record of 53.04m that was set in 2017. The record did last long as St Jago’s Abigail Martin a new mark of 55.19m to set up an interesting duel between the two in the final.
However, Martin was unable to surpass her preliminary round effort, throwing 53.81m in the final as Williams reigned supreme.
Camperdown High School’s Britannia was also over 50m taking the bronze medal with a throw of 50.69m.
Kimeka Smith of St Jago High School won the Girls Class II shot put with an impressive mark of 15.82m. Hydel High School’s Natassia Burrell won the silver with a throw of 15.55m. Able Mills of St Catherine High won the bronze medal with her best throw of 15.27m.
Uroy Ryan of Jamaica College leapt 7.42m to win the Class 1 Boys long jump, a mere six centimetres ahead of Demario Prince of St Jago High, whose best jump of 7.36m was good enough for the silver medal.
Trevon Hamer of Jamaica College won the bronze medal with his effort of 7.11.
Jamaica College also won the Class II Boys long jump as Michael Anderson soared out to 7.29m. It was a 1-2 finish for the school from Old Hope Road in Kingston as Euan Young won silver with a leap of 7.03m. Anthony Hall of B.B. Coke High jumped 6.95m to win the bronze medal.
On the track, Ainsley Campbell of Kingston College won the Class 1 Boys 1500m in 4:02.63 over Carlando Chambers of St Jago High, who crossed the finish line in 4:04.16 while Jamaica College’s Kemarrio Bygrave was third in 4:05.26.
The other record to fall on Wednesday was Natoya Goule’s 13-year-old Class 1 Girls 1500m standard off 4:29.42 that was broken by Holmwood Technical’s Jodyann Mitchell, who ran 4:29.42 to win the gold medal.
Kishay Rowe of Alphansus Davis took the silver in 4:30.29. Danielle King of Hydel claimed the final podium spot when she crossed the finish line in 4:35.57.
The Boys Class II 1500m final was won by Brian Kiprop in a Kingston College 1-2 finish. Kiprop ran 4:07.46 just ahead of his teammate Nahashon Ruto (4:07.64). Yoshane Bowen of Magotty High School won the bronze running 4:11.52.
In a stirring finish in the Class II Girls 1500m, which saw the first two competitors cross the line together, Edwin Allen’s Monique Stewart came from behind to nip Holmwood Technical’s Cindy Rose. Both were credited with 4:41.43 but the photo-finish determined that Stewart had won by 0.01 seconds ahead of her rival.
Misha-Jade Samuel of St. Jago High was third in 4:53.53.
Carlos Brison-Caines of Calabar High ran 4:18.18 to win the Class III Boys 1500m holding off a stern challenge from Jayden Brown of Maggotty High, who ran 4:18.26 for the silver medal. Yohance Carty Jamaica College finished third in 4:33.88.
The Class III Girls race was won by Alikay Reynolds of Alphansus Davies. She ran 4:46.36 and was a comfortable winner over Kededra Coombs of St. Jago High, who ran 4:49.07 for the silver medal. Her teammate Tabbrel Williams was third in 4:49.42.
Dalilah Muhammad headlines additions to star-studded line up for Jamaica Athletics Invitational
The excitement is building for the upcoming Jamaica Athletics Invitational, set to take place on May 11 at the National Stadium in Kingston, as 2016 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad joins the list of confirmed international stars for the event. Muhammad, a former world record holder and two-time world champion, brings her stellar track record to Kingston following her silver medal performance at the Tokyo Games.
Alongside Muhammad, a host of emerging Jamaican talents will also grace the track, including standout sprinters Alana Reid, Briana Williams, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, and Sandrey Davison.
Reid has been training alongside World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson in Florida and will be looking to make an early statement on her form leading into the national championships in June.
Williams, under the mentorship of distinguished coach John Smith in California, is an Olympic sprint relay gold medalist and a two-time World Championship silver medallist who is eager for a return to form.
Nkrumie, who last year became the first Jamaican schoolboy to break the 10-second barrier, and Davison, both formidable sprinters in their own right, add depth to sprint line up with Davison currently holding the title of fastest Jamaican over 100m this year.
Marvin Anderson, Athletes' Liaison for the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, expressed his enthusiasm for the calibre of athletes set to compete. "We are pleased with the confirmed list to date and excited about the level of competition the athletes and fans should experience," he remarked.
Anticipation is high for a thrilling series of events both on the track and in the field.
Tickets for the May 11 event are already available online, with ticket locations opening on May 4. Grandstand tickets are priced at $3,000, while bleacher seating is free of charge. The meet is scheduled to run from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, followed by an after-party to celebrate an evening of world-class athletics.
The Jamaica Athletics Invitational promises to deliver top-notch competition and showcase the immense talent within the track and field community. With international stars like Dalilah Muhammad and rising Jamaican sensations like Alana Reid and Briana Williams, fans can expect an unforgettable evening of athletic prowess at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Jamaica’s girls dominate field events on opening day at Penn Relays: Bahamas thrower wins javelin event
Caribbean athletes showcased their prowess in the field on the opening day of the 128th edition of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Thursday. Chief among them were the Jamaicans who enjoyed podium places in the high jump and triple jump events with the Bahamas taking gold in the javelin.
Shaniqua Williams and Danielle Noble, both of Wolmer’s Girls, secured a 1-2 finish in the keenly contested high school girls high jump. Williams’ winning mark of 1.73m was also cleared by Noble and Alysa Carrigan.
However, she won on the basis of a cleaner record during the rounds.
Williams said it was cold and her muscles were lazy but she knew what she had to do to win.
“Despite that I came out here and did what I had to do which was focus on my technique,” she said. “The weather was very cold and I am not used to this kind of weather so I had to take a long time to warm up.”
The Jamaicans were not alone in their dominance as Taysha Stubbs who attends Queens College in the Bahamas showcased her incredible skill and strength in winning the high school girls javelin with an outstanding throw of 47.17m.
Stubbs was several metres better than her main rivals in Sophia Scott of Omaha Burke, who took second place with a throw of 44.79m. In a close third place was Eliana Schneider who produced a best mark of 44.78m.
Jamaicans Marla-Kay Lampart and Kimeka Smith were second and third, respectively in the high school girls shot put that was won by Jessica Oji of Livingston with an impressive throw of 14.01m.
Lampart of Claredon College threw 13.64m for second place while Smith mustered a throw of 13.46m for third place.
Jamaica’s girls won the top four places in the high school girls triple jump competition.
Jade-Ann Dawkins of St Jago finished atop the podium with a distance of 13.01m. Jadea Robinson of Immaculate Conception was in second position with her jump of 12.70m just ahead of Celine Riddle of Holmwood Technical (12.69m).
Richelle Stanley of St Elizabeth Technical (12.55m) was fourth.
Nahjahda Seymoure of Excelsior High threw an impressive 48.08m to finish in second position in the high school girls discus competition that was won by Layla Giordano of NV Old Tappan who hurled the implement out to a winning mark of 51.17m.
Able Mills of St Catherine High threw 48.01m for third place.
Mills’ teammate Rohanna Sudlow jumped 5.83m to finish in third place in the high school girls long jump.
Jaydon Hibbert excited to make his professional debut at USATF Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday
Jamaica's rising triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert is set for his professional debut at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday.
From holding both the indoor and outdoor NCAA records to becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest athlete to win the coveted Bowerman Award, Hibbert's journey has been an exciting display of exceptional talent in the jumps. He eagerly awaits the Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday,
"Finally, I'll be opening my season. I'm grateful and happy that I am ready to compete and I'm excited to see where I am in my preparations. I've never visited Bermuda before, but I expect it to be fun. I've heard it's an electrifying stadium, which jumpers need, so I look forward to the crowd support," he exclaimed.
The 19-year-old won the gold medal at the 2022 World U20 championships and is the holder of the U20 indoor and outdoor triple jump world records at 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively. He went undefeated during his freshman year at the University of Arkansas in 2023 before transitioning to the professional ranks in January.
"Since I started doing the sport, I've been looking forward to competing professionally. I can't wait to get out there and make my coach and family proud. I'm praying for a great season!" he exclaimed hardly able to contain his excitement.
The Bermuda Grand Prix, also known as the "Prelude to Paris", will start at 3 pm Jamaica time at the Flora Duffy Stadium. Action is live on Peacock via NBC Sports.
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