Jamaica’s rising sprint sensation, Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls, is setting her sights on gold at the upcoming 2024 Carifta Games in Grenada, buoyed by her impressive performance at the 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships held at the National Stadium in Kingston on Wednesday night.
East showcased her exceptional talent by clinching the Class 3 Girls 100m title in commanding fashion, crossing the finish line in a personal best time of 11.42 seconds. Her electrifying run secured the gold medal, leaving Adora Campbell of St Jago High School trailing behind with a time of 11.52 seconds, earning her the silver. Kerelle Etienne from Edwin Allen High School claimed the bronze with a time of 11.73 seconds.
Notably, East's winning time surpassed the performance of Carifta U17 girls champion Jamiah Nabbie from the Bahamas, who clocked 11.67 seconds to claim gold in her home country last year. East's improvement from her fourth-place finish last year, where she ran 11.97 seconds, has boosted her confidence for the upcoming Carifta Games.
Reflecting on her victory and the significant improvement in her time, East expressed her optimism, stating, “It does [boost my confidence], my time is better this year so I am hoping for the best. A new personal best and also a new season’s best; I’m really proud of myself and I hope to continue going forward.”
Despite facing stiff competition, East remained unfazed and focused on her goal. She credited her support system for helping her stay composed, saying, “I know that all my friends and family, especially my mom and my dad were right there behind me pushing me and supporting me along the way so I didn’t feel pressured, I just knew what I had to do and I came out here to do it today.”
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 wins third straight Championship of America 4x400m title at Penn Relays; JC wins 4x800m
Kingston College made it three Championship of America 4x400m titles in a row with a comfortable win in the event on the third and final day of the 128th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Their quartet of Antonio Forbes, Amal Glasgow, Roshawn Lee and Marcinho Rose combined to run 3:11.86 to win ahead of Excelsior (3:12.94) and Bullis School (3:13.10).
Elsewhere, Jamaica College won their second Championship of America 4x800m relay in three years.
Their team of Nellie Amberton, Samuel Creary, Rasheed Pryce and Kemarrio Bygrave produced a time of 7:42.37 to win ahead of St. John’s College (7:44.66) and Central Bucks West (7:45.99).
Excelsior leads Jamaican 1-2-3 in Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m at Penn Relays
Excelsior High emerged victorious in the Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m on the third and final day at the 128th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Their quartet of Ryeem Walker, Damor Miller, Malike Nugent and Lennon Green combined to run 40.45 to secure the school’s first win in the event since 1967.
Kingston College (Daniel Clarke, Yourie Lawrence-Clarke, Nyrone Wade, Marcinho Rose) were second in 40.53 and Herbert Morrison (Ky-Mani Hemmings, Tavaine Stewart, Chance Segree, De Andre Daley) completed a Jamaican 1-2-3 with 40.56 in third.
Smith produces season’s best to win long jump at Texas Invitational
Texas junior Ackelia Smith produced an NCAA leading performance to take top spot on day one of the Texas Invitational at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday.
The 22-year-old reigning NCAA champion produced a season’s best 7.10m, her first jump over 7m this season, to win ahead of Trinidadian Puma athlete Tyra Gittens (6.72m) and UTSA’s Ida Breigan (6.65m).
This is a welcome return to form for Smith who suffered a torn hamstring at the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.
Smith was Jamaica’s national champion in the long jump in 2022 and was a finalist in both the long and triple jump at that year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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