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• Edwin Allen’s Delano Kennedy (45.27), Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell (51.26) run personal bests to win 400m titles at ISSA Boys and Girls Championships

  Edwin Allen’s Delano Kennedy brought the curtain down on Thursday’s day three of the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships with a gold medal in the Class 1 Boys 400m final at the National Stadium in Kingston.

  The 19-year-old World Under-20 finalist secured nine points for the Clarendon-based school with a personal best 45.27 to win gold ahead of Jamaica College’s Malique Smith Band (45.74) and St. Elizabeth Technical’s Jasauna Dennis (45.87). Smith Band and Dennis also ran personal bests.

  In the Girls Class 1 event, Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell produced an excellent personal best 51.26, narrowly missing out on Sonita Sutherland’s record of 51.13 done in 2006, to win gold ahead of Hydel’s Oneika McAnuff (52.11) and Edwin Allen’s Kacian Powell (52.76).

  KC’s Tahj-Marques White, the pre-race favourite in Class 2, made good on the promise he showed throughout the rounds to comfortably take gold in 47.73 ahead of JC’s Omary Robinson (48.49) and Calabar’s Nickecoy Bramwell (48.88).

  Jody-Ann Daley of Hydel won the Girls Class 2 final in 53.61 ahead of Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (54.12) and St. Catherine’s fast-finishing Kitania Headley (54.13).

  Calabar’s Christopher Ellis produced a mild upset in the Class 3 final when he ran 50.49 to defeat the KC pair Jordan Rehedul (50.67) and Eshanee Porter (50.69).

  Hydel were once again winners in Class 3 through Nastassia Fletcher’s 53.99 effort. Excelsior’s Breana Brown ran 55.58 for second while Rhodes Hall’s Rhianna Lewis was third in 56.15.

  In the field, Edwin Allen’s Dylan Logan threw 16.03m to win the Class 2 Boys shot put ahead of Petersfield’s Ranaldo Anderson (15.15m) and KC’s Jaeden Williams (15.05m).

  The Class 1 Boys discus was won by JC’s Racquil Broderick with an impressive 62.94m ahead of Calabar’s World Under-20 shot put silver medallist Kobe Lawrence (60.41m) and Clarendon College’s Ricardo Hayles (60.15m).

  KC’s Isaiah Patrick, who missed Champs last year through injury, produced a record 6969 points to win the boys decathlon ahead of JC’s Dorian Charles (6579 points) and Calabar’s Kevin Brooks (6202 points).

  On the Girls’ side, Hydel’s Zavien Bernard cleared 1.77m for victory in the Class 3 high jump ahead of Edwin Allen’s Asia McKay (1.71m) and Rhode Hall’s Aaliyah Williams (1.68m).

  St. Jago’s Jade-Ann Dawkins jumped 6.12m for gold in the Class 2 long jump ahead of St. Catherine High’s Rohanna Sudlow (5.90m) and Edwin Allen’s Deijanae Bruce (5.75m).

  Immaculate Conception’s Ashley Barrett took the crown in Class 4 with 5.25m. St. Mary High’s Sackoya Palmer took second with 5.22m and Hydel’s Arrian Nelson third with 5.10m.

  Edwin Allen took gold in the Girls Open javelin throw through Sheniela Williams’ 42.40m ahead of Hydel’s Natassia Burrell (41.82m) and Immaculate Conception’s Zoelle Jamel (39.70m).

  As far as points go, Kingston College leads the Boys standings after 15 events scored with 124 points. Jamaica College finds themselves second with 121 while the top five is rounded out by Calabar with 70, St. Elizabeth Technical with 41 and St. Jago High with 32.

  Hydel lead the standings on the Girls side after 16 events scored with 98 points, one more then defending champions Edwin Allen while the top five is completed by Holmwood Technical with 73.50, St. Jago High with 70 and Immaculate Conception with 44.

   

   

• France confirm Herve Renard appointment following Diacre revolt

  Herve Renard has been confirmed as the new head coach of France's women's team after a player revolt led to the dismissal of Corinne Diacre.

  Renard resigned from his role as Saudi Arabia boss earlier this week, having overseen the team's memorable 2-1 victory over eventual winners Argentina at last year's World Cup in Qatar.

  The French Football Federation (FFF) sacked Diacre earlier in March after several big-name Bleues players refused to play under her, criticising her management style and treatment of the squad.

  Renard was immediately touted as a potential replacement for Diacre, and the 54-year-old's appointment was finalised on Thursday.

  His contract with Les Bleues will run until August 2024, allowing him to lead the team at the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, as well as next year's home Olympic Games in Paris.

  In addition to leading Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2012 and 2015 respectively, Renard has also taken charge of Angola and Morocco during a long career in international football.

  A statement from the FFF said Renard will be officially presented at a press conference on Friday, when he will also name his squad for next month's friendlies against Colombia and Canada.

  France will begin their World Cup campaign against Jamaica in Sydney on July 23, before facing Brazil and Panama in their subsequent Group F matches.

• “It will only get better from here,” says KC’s Nkrumie after historic 9.99 performance

  March 29, 2023 is a day that fans of Jamaican track and field will never forget.

  The stage was set at the National Stadium in Kingston on Wednesday night for the Class One boys 100m final where Kingston College star Bouwahjgie Nkrumie was aiming to secure his first gold medal since moving up to class one two years ago.

  Not only was he expected to easily win the race, he was expected to become the first Jamaican Under-20 athlete to break the 10-second barrier.

  After coasting to 10.51 to win his heat on Tuesday, the World Under-20 silver medallist heightened the expectations of the many watching on at the Stadium and at home when he sped to 10.08 in the semi-finals, breaking the record set in 2014 by Zharnel Hughes.

  Then, with everyone’s eyes glued to the Stadium track, Nkrumie did it. He produced a special 9.99, breaking his own national junior record 10.02, and becoming only the third Under-20 athlete to break 10 seconds.

  The other two are Botswanan Letsile Tebogo who ran 9.91 to defeat Nkrumie at the World Under-20 Championships last year and American Trayvon Bromell who ran 9.97 in 2014.

  That time also makes Nkrumie the current world leader in the event.

  “I can’t explain the feeling right now. I can tell you, now, it was not easy to do. It will only get better from here,” Nkrumie said after the race.

  “Felt good throughout the rounds but I wasn’t pleased with the execution in the final again. That’s what affected me last year but I promise you I will get it together at the right time,” he added.

  As previously stated, this was Nkrumie’s third 100m final since making the transition to Class One in 2021.

  That year, Nkrumie took bronze while, in 2022, his finished sixth after stumbling out of his blocks.

  He reacted to finally claiming that elusive gold medal.

  “The journey has been rough to be honest but if only some athletes in high school had the mindset that I have, they’d be so fantastic but, as I said, I’m happy to achieve this time and it’s only going to get better from here,” Nkrumie said.

  As for what comes next for the three-time Kingston College team captain, he says wait and see.

  “Let’s see. The season is long. With the way my coach planned out this season, you will definitely see me run faster down the line.”