It seems as if Julien Alfred sets a new personal best and national record every week.
On January 21, the 21-year-old St Lucian clocked 7.05 and then 7.02, then world-leading times at the Martin Luther King Invitational in New Mexico.
She then set a new personal best and national record of 22.56 over 200m, also in New Mexico on Friday, February 3 at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.
A day later, on Saturday, she blazed to a new 60m record lowering her own mark to 7.00, the second fastest time in the world this year behind Aleia Hobbs’ 6.98.
The Texas Longhorn senior was miles ahead of Samira Mood of the University of Southern California (USC) who ran a creditable 7.19 and LSU Junior Favour Ofili 7.21.
Aldred’s Texas teammate Kevona Davis was fourth in 7.22.
Several other Caribbean athletes excelled at the two-day meet that began on Friday.
Lamara Distin, the NCAA champion established a new Jamaica national indoor record of 1.94m to easily take gold on Friday. Her Texas A&M teammate Bara Sajdokavic took the runner-up spot with her clearance of 1.87m.
LSU’s Morgan Small was third with 1.81m.
Wayne Pinnock, who transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas during the summer, was an easy winner of the Men’s Long Jump soaring out to a mark of 8.10m.
Kelsey Daniel of New Mexico Junior College was next best with his effort of 7.99m while Texas freshman Solomon Washington was third with 7.85m.
World U20 champion Jaydon Hibbert, a freshman at the University of Arkansas, demonstrated his class with two jumps of 16.73m to win the triple jump competition.
His nearest rival was Russell Robinson of Miami, who leapt out to 16.33m. LSU’s Apalos Edwards secured third place with his best effort of 16.13m.
Texas Longhorn Ackelia Smith of Jamaica produced a mark of 13.92m to win the women’s event ahead of Texas Christian University’s Grace Anigbata (13.24m) and Miami’s Ashley Moore (12.97m).
Meanwhile, Omar McLeod, who was returned to Arkansas to train after failed campaigns over the past two seasons, finished second in the 60m hurdles.
The 2016 Olympic champion clocked 7.61 behind USC’s Omotade Ojora, who ran 7.58 for the win. Texas Tech’s Caleb Dean was third in 7.62,
Demisha Roswell had to settle for second place in the women’s event in a close battle with LSU Junior Leah Phillips, who won in 8.02.
The Texas Tech senior crossed the line in 8.03.
Wisconsin’s Destiny Huven was third in 8.08.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
KC's Bouwahjgie Nkrumie (9.99) and Hydel's Alana Reid (10.92) set national junior records, break new ground for Jamaica's high school sprinters
Kingston College’s Bouwahjghie Nkrumie and Hydel High School’s Alana Reid established new records and created history in the 100m finals that concluded Wednesday’s second day of the 2023 ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Both athletes delivered massive firsts for Jamaican junior athletes winning in 9.99 and 10.92, respectively, national junior records.
Nkrumie, 19, whose 10.02 at the World U20 Championships in Colombia last year, was a national junior record, lowered his own mark to 9.99 to win the Class 1 Boys 100m final. Nkrumie gave fair warning in the semi-finals when he eased to 10.08 to break Zharnel Hughes’ record of 10.12 set in 2014.
In the final, he left it all on the track becoming the first male athlete to break 10 seconds at the 113-year-old championships and only the third junior in history to break 10 seconds. Only the USA’s Trayvon Brommel and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo have run the 100m under 10 seconds as juniors.
The KC star dragged Herbert Morrison’s Deandre Daley to a personal best 10.14 for the silver medal while Jaiden Reid of Jamaica College was third in 10.26.
Reid became the first female to break 11 seconds at the championships, shattering Veronica Campbell’s record of 11.12 set back in 2001.
It was supposed to be a clash between Reid from Hydel and Serena Cole of Edwin Allen and things were shaping up for a monumental battle between the two who split two races this season. The appetite of the fans gathered at the national stadium was whetted in anticipation of a battle royal in the final when Reid cruised to a personal best 11.16 to win her heat.
The gauntlet thrown down, Cole responded with a seemingly effortless 11.17 but her grimace as she crossed the finish line in her semi-final was ominous.
The news that eventually surfaced confirmed the fear. Cole was out with a hamstring injury but that didn’t faze Reid, who destroyed the field that included World U20 100m hurdles silver medalist Alexis James.
She stormed across the line to break Tina Clayton’s national junior record set in August 2022, less than a year ago at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. The time that makes her the 11th fastest Jamaican woman in history is also a world-leading time.
James of Petersfield High was a distant second in 11.45 while Tonie-Ann Forbes of Edwin Allen High was third in 11.47.
The Class II finals were not as spectacular but were nonetheless impressive as Calabar High School’s Shaquane Gordon won in 10.40 barely holding off Tremaine Todd of St Elizabeth Technical who was a close second in 10.42.
Dontae Watson of Jamaica College ran 10.72 for third.
Meanwhile, Abigaile Wolfe of Holy Childhood High ran a personal best 11.59 for the gold medal. Shemonique Hazle of Hydel won the silver medal clocking 11.65 with Lavanya Williams of William Knibb breathing down her neck in 11.66.
Kingston College’s Joshua Spence took the Class III Boys crown in 10.92 ahead of Jamaica College’s Malique Spence 11.01 and Shaun Lewis of St Elizabeth Technical 11.07.
Among the girls, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge of Edwin Allen successfully defended her title winning in a smart 11.49. The 2022 Carifta Games silver medallist held off a fast-closing Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls, who ran 11.59.
St Jago High School’s Poshanna-Lee Blake was third in 11.89.
Immaculate High School enjoyed a 1-2 finish in the Class IV 100m finals with Kayla Johnson clocking 11.97 to win gold ahead of her teammate Naje Brown 12.20.
Gabrielle Morgan of Hydel ram 12.24 for the bronze medal.
At the end of proceedings on Wednesday, Jamaica College leads the boys standings with 74 points with defending champions Kingston College 13 points behind on 61. Calabar lie third with 29 points, one more than St Jago and two clear of St Elizabeth Technical.
Among the girls, defending champions Edwin Allen lead with 55 points with St Jago not far behind on 47 points.
Holmwood Technical are third with 41 points while Hydel are fourth with 39.
Immaculate High’s 23 points see them lie fifth on the standings.
100m favorites Nkrumie, Cole safely through to semis at ISSA Boys and Girls Championships
Class One 100m favorites Bouwahjgie Nkrumie of Kingston College and Serena Cole of Edwin Allen both safely advanced from the preliminaries as the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships got underway at the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday.
Nkrumie, the national junior record holder and World Under-20 silver medallist, got left in the blocks but recovered well to win his heat in 10.51 ahead of St. Jago’s Tajai Duffus (10.88) and St. Catherine high’s Sajay Campbell (10.91) who both also advanced to the semis.
JC’s Caymanian junior record holder Jaiden Reid, who ran a new personal best 10.25 earlier this season, also secured a spot in the semis with 10.52 to advance second fastest overall.
The third fastest to advance was Camperdown’s Junior Harris who looked impressive for his 10.56 in the preliminary round.
Herbert Morrison’s De Andre Daley (10.65), STETHS’s Javorn Dunkley (10.59), JC’s Hector Benjamin (10.67), Manchester’s Javoon Blair (10.93) and Steer Town Academy’s Tay-Shawn Barnes (10.60) were the other heat winners.
The Class Two qualifiers were led by KC’s Nicardo Clarke (10.95), Herbert Morrison’s Class Three champion from last year Tavaine Stewart (11.00) and Muschett’s Johan-Ramaldo Smythe (11.02).
Pre-meet favorite Tramaine Todd of STETHS ran 11.09 to win his heat and safely advance while Calabar’s Shaquane Gordon is also through after an 11.10 clocking in his heat. Other heat winners included Calabar’s Khamani Gordon (11.34), St. Jago’s Detarje Morgan (11.11) and JC’s Dontae Watson (11.34),
In Class Three, JC’s Malique Dennis looked impressive running 11.06 to advance fastest ahead of STETHS’s Rodeeki Walters (11.54) and KC’s Jonathan Clarke (11.55). Other heat winners included STETHS’s Shaun Lewis (11.56), Cornwall College’s Thomas Daley (11.71), St. Jago’s Rayj Reece (11.64), Calabar’s Byron Walker (11.82) and St. Jago’s Kevon McKenzie (11.93).
On the Girls side, medal favourites Serena Cole, Alana Reid and Alexis James are all safely through to the semi-finals after convincing heat wins.
Edwin Allen’s Cole, the 2022 World Under-20 100m silver medallist, ran 11.57 to advance fastest ahead of Petersfield’s James, and Hydel’s Reid who ran 11.74 and 11.81 to win their respective heats. Other heat winners included Edwin Allen’s Tonie-Ann Forbes (11.80) and St. Catherine high’s Kamaria Knight (11.89). James and Reid also got medals at the World Under-20 Championships last year. James was runner-up in the 100m hurdles while Reid won bronze in the 200m.
Hydel’s Shemonique Hazle advanced fastest in Class Two with 12.17 ahead of St. Catherine’s Kaycian Johnson (12.19) and Edwin Allen’s Doniella Lewis (12.20). Other heat winners included 2021 Class Three double sprint champion Lavanya Williams of William Knibb (12.30), Bridgeport’s Brittney McCormack (12.24), Holmwood’s Akhalia Collins (12.24), Edwin Allen’s Renecia Edwards (12.26) and holy Childhood’s Abigail Wolfe (12.26).
Edwin Allen’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge qualified fastest in Class Three with 12.10 ahead of St. Jago’s Poshanna-Lee Blake (12.47) and Vere Technical’s Tiana Oliver (12.53). Other heat winners included Natrece East of Wolmer’s (12.53), Excelsior’s Tashika Thompson (13.03), Immaculate Conception’s Kedoya Lindo (12.76), St. Jago’s Adora Campbell (12.69) and Excelsior’s Paris Pomings (12.67).
Class Four qualifiers were led by Maria Baker of Holmwood Technical (12.47), Giana Murray of Mount Alvernia High (12.62) and Naje’ Brown of Immaculate (12.65).
Moving on to the 400m, the JC pair of Malique Smith Band and Mark Anthony Miller led all qualifiers to the semi-finals for Class One Boys with times of 48.34 and 48.40, respectively.
Edwin Allen’s 2022 World Under-20 finalist Delano Kennedy also easily made it through to the semis with a 48.61 effort, closely followed by the KC pair Emmanuel Rwotomiya (48.89) and Amal Glasgow (49.13) as well as Jasauna Dennis of STETHS (49.31).
In Class Two, Daniel Francis of Alphansus Davis High was the fastest through to the semi-finals with 49.84. JC’s Tyler Ferguson and Holmwood Technical’s Omarie Williamson were the only others to dip below 50 seconds in the heats with 49.87 and 49.92, respectively.
Other qualifiers to semis included KC’s Tahj-Marques White (50.04) who won silver in the same event last year and Calabar’s Nickecoy Bramwell (50.46), who won silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m in Class Three at last year’s championships.
The Class Three qualifiers were led by KC’s Jordan Rehedul (51.63), Maggotty High’s Akeem Honeyghan (51.70) and Ferncourt’s Jevari McKoy (51.84). The Calabar pair of Christopher Ellis (52.56) and Malik Gayle (53.32) also made it through.
On the girls’ side, 2022 Class Three champion Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia ran 55.29 to advance fastest in the Class Two 400m. Holmwood Technical’s Rosalee Gallimore (55.70) and Hydel’s Jody-Ann Daley (55.71) made up the rest of the top three through to the semis.
In Class Three, Hydel’s Nastassia Fletcher (56.29), Excelsior’s Breana Brown (56.84) and Muschett’s Shanoya Douglas (56.90) led the qualifiers to the semis.
The Class One girls will only run semi-finals and finals.
Edwin Allen’s Tonyan Beckford (57.90), Hydel’s Onieka McAnnuff (58.24) and Holmwood’s Annalice Brady (59.50) were the fastest qualifiers into the final of the Girls Open 400m hurdles.
The Class Two qualifiers were led by JC’s Deandre Gayle (53.13), Calabar’s Requel Reid (53.21) and KC’s Taj-Oneil Gordon (54.49) while Class One was led by Edwin Allen’s Tyrece Hyman (51.26), STETHS’s Shamer Blake (51.63) and KC’s Antonio Forbes (52.80).
KC’s Ethan Gioko and Ainsley Campbell led the qualifiers for the final of the Class One 1500m. JC will also have two in the final as Kemarrio Bygrave and Nellie Amberton also made it through. Campbell and Amberton also qualified for the final of the 2000m steeplechase later in the day.
KC also had the top two qualifiers in Class Two through their Kenyan duo Nahashon Ruto and Brian Kiprop while Class Three was led by Edwin Allen’s Moses Johnson and Calabar’s Carlos Brison-Caines.
Alphansus Davis’ Alikay Reynolds and Edwin Allen’s Kevongaye Fowler led the qualifiers for Class Three girls. The Class Two and One races will be straight finals.
In the field, JC’s Uroy Ryan led all qualifiers to the final of the Class One long jump with a 7.35m effort in his first round.
The qualifiers for the Class Two final were led by JC’s Michael-Andre Edwards with 7.13m.
Girls Class One discus record broken twice on day one of ISSA Boys and Girls Champs
Holmwood Technical’s Cedricka Williams and St. Jago's Abigail Martin were both in record-breaking form on Tuesday's first day of the 2023 ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Williams, a finalist at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi two years ago, threw 53.22m to break former Edwin Allen standout Fiona Richards' Class One discus record 53.04m, set in 2017, with her only throw in flight one of the preliminaries.
Her record would last only a few hours, however, as Martin broke Williams' record with a 55.19m effort in flight two, setting up an interesting clash between the two in the final.
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