KC, Immaculate claim Corporate Area Champs
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Kingston College’s Kyle Bodden stretches his legs during the Class 1 4x100 metres at the Corporate Area Athletics Championships at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College yesterday.
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Immaculate Conception’s Kimberley Wright, in action at the ISSA Corporate Area Athletics Championships at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College on Friday.
Raymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
Kingston College (KC) and Immaculate Conception High School were crowned kings and queens of Corporate Area high school track and field after both produced commanding victories at the two-day championships which ended at the Ashenheim Stadium yesterday. Both teams led from start to finish.
KC, the defending male champions, retained their title, finishing with 519 points, ahead of Jamaica College (JC), 475. Calabar were third on 283, Wolmer’s fourth with 157.5, and Excelsior rounded out the top five with 149 points.
KC team captain Daijon Budhai, who won the Class 1 discus with a throw of 56.79m, was elated.
“We are happy for the win and this sets the stage for us going into the ISSA Boys and Girls’ [Athletics] Championships, as we are ready to defend our title,” he stated.
It was also one-way traffic for Immaculate, who were picking up their first Corporate Area title after dethroning defending champions Excelsior, finishing on 408 points. Excelsior were second with 288, Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha) third on 286, Wolmer’s fourth with 220.5. The Queen’s School closed out the top five with 135 points.
Head coach Franz Forde was over the moon.
“I am very emotional. This means a lot as we have been planning for this from last year. Incredible job by the coaches, management staff and all the girls who shone in all classes,” said Forde.
There were brilliant performances on both the track and in the field.
Jason Pitter led the way for KC with a smashing run in the Class 2 Boys’ 400 metres. The defending ISSA Boys and Girls’ champion stormed to a lifetime best and meet record 46.35 seconds, turning back Calabar’s Diwayne Sharpe, who was second in a personal best 46.73, while KC teammate Rajeve Allison was third in a personal best 48.41.
Like he did on Friday’s opening day when he won the Class 3 Boys’ 1500m in a personal best and meet record, Julius Itubo of KC returned to capture the Class 3 800m in a new meet record and personal best 2:01.31, relegating the Jamaica College duo of Ajavi Williams (2:06.03) and Mickoloy Saunders (2:06.82) to second and third.
KC also got wins from Marcado Williams in the Class 3 400m in a personal best 50.27, ahead of teammate Tariq Gordon, while Taj O’Neil Gordon posted 12.56 seconds to win the Class 1 Boys’ 110m hurdles in a personal best.
JC and Excelsior also had strong showings. Cavel Nooks of JC won the Class 2 Boys’ 800m in 1:59.26 to complete a middle-distance double, following his 1500m success on Friday. Carlos ‘Bison’ Caine of St Maarten was brilliant for JC in the Class 1 boys’ 800m, romping to victory in a personal best 1:51.25.
Excelsior picked up two big wins in the 400m hurdles. First, Jaeden Campbell won the Class Two event in a personal best and meet record 50.91. In the Class 1 event, three athletes went sub-51 seconds with Kishawn Hoffman taking the win for Excelsior in a meet record and personal best 50.91. Rajay Black of JC (50.84) and Francisco Williams of St George’s College (50.90) were second and third respectively.
JC had two wins in the 4x100m relays, both in record-breaking fashion. In a very close Class 2 event, they clocked 40.97 to edge KC, who were also credited with the same time. In Class 1 they dipped under 40 seconds, clocking 39.78 for the win.
Sukheri Shay-Smith of Immaculate was in record-breaking form in the girls’ Class 4 70m hurdles, clocking a personal best 10.74 for the win ahead of Aleisha McDonald of Alpha (10.88) and Jesenique Scott of St Andrew High (10.98).
Immaculate also got a win from Jada Francis in the Class 1 discus, with 46.15m.
Wolmer’s Natrece East completed a Class 2 sprint double, winning the 200m in a season’s best and meet record 23.49, following her 100m victory on Friday. Her teammates Akeelah Bell won the Class 2 100m hurdles in a personal best 13.26, while Tiana Marshall captured the Class 1 100m hurdles in a personal best and meet record 13.38.
Wolmer’s girls also secured two 4x100m relay victories, with their Class 4 team winning in 49.45 and the Class 1 team clocking a meet record 45.48 for the win.