National Junior Championships 2016 Day 2
On day 2 (June 19, 2016) of the Supreme Ventures Limited Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Junior Championships, Nigel Ellis went some way in the boys’ Under-20 200m, to make amends for his false start a day earlier in the Under-20 100m event. In what was billed as a clash between Ellis, the 2016 Carifta boys’ Under-20 100m winner – who T&F fans will recall also false started at the 2016 Carifta boys’ Under-20 200m semi-finals – and Akeem Bloomfield the 2016 Carifta boys’ Under-20 400m winner, the small sprinkling of spectators were expectant of fireworks in the last event of the day. It was not to be.
Ellis running in lane 4 had covered Bloomfield in lane 5 by the time they came out of the curve and was leading by a metre. For the next forty metres the gap did not increase before Ellis pulled away to win in 20.72 seconds in a negative wind of 3.6 m/s.Bloomfield slowing at the line recorded 21.06 seconds, while Ellis’ teammate, Hujaye Cornwall, was third in 21.39.
“I couldn’t believe what happened to me in the 100 metres on Saturday, and I was motivated to do much better and was determined to win the 200 metres, and I am not surprised that I won that easily, as I was ready to run fast,” said Ellis, who is hoping to run the 100 metres in Poland.
Bloomfield shook the winners hand and accepted his second place finish with class.
“Congrats to Nigel for winning. I didn’t get a good start and it was just an okay race for me, and I will just have to go back to the drawing board with my coach, as I have a few things to brush up on,” said Bloomfield, who stated that he will be running the 400 metres at the National Senior Championships next weekend.
The girl’s equivalent was won by St Jago High School’s Shanice Reid in 24.22 seconds. Hydel High’s Roneisha McGregor took second in 24.46 seconds, andVanesha Pusey of Green Island High third in 24.70 seconds.
Tiffany James of MicoUniversity, who made a slow start to her season and was looking flat at the 2016 Carifta Games recorded a good victory over Junelle Bromfieldof STETHS in the U20 girl’s 400m. James won in a personal best of 52.06 seconds. Bromfield was second in 52.59 seconds, and her schoolmate, Stacy Ann Williams, finishing third in 53.46 seconds. Without taking anything away from James, it appeared that Bromfield was surprised by James’ unusually fast pace over the first 200m and was not prepared to alter her race plans. Time will tell, if we can wait for the 2016 U20 Junior Champs in Poland.
Christopher Taylor had no one to challenge him in the U20 boy’s 400mand stayed close to the early pace of Sean Bailey of St Jago,who led for 300m before Taylor overtook him with 100m to go and went on to win easily in 46.26 seconds. Bailey was second in 46.51, and Taylor’s schoolmate, Anthony Carpenter third in 47.25.
Jeanine Williams formerly of Immaculate Conception High and now at Auburn University and Rushelle Burton of Camperdown Highhad a keenly fought battle in the U20 girl’s 100m hurdles, as Williams pulled away after 20m to lead by a metre, before Burton caught her with 15m to go,but Williams had just enough to pip the line before Burton. Williams won in 13.62seconds, with Burton second in 13.63 and Renée Shaw of Excelsior High was third in 13.92. Considering her third place finish in the 100m it was a good weekend’s work for Burton, who T&F fans will recall had a lengthy hiatus in 2015.
Sixteen year-old Damion Thomas, who is based in Florida, showed no respect to his seniors in the U20 boy’s 110m hurdlesand recorded 13.50 seconds to win. Thomas currently ranked number three on the IAAF top list relegated Carifta Under-20 champion, Rohan Cole of UTech to third in 13.64 seconds, as Calabar High’s Dejour Russell who probably got his best start of the season, and did not have to do his usual catch, finished second in 13.55. If he can maintain good starts his prospects will brighten.
Campion College’s Jordan Scott won the Under-20 boys’ triple jump with 16.61 metres, secondwas Kingston College’s Carey McLeod with 16.09m, and Javier Lowe of Calabar High third with 16.09m.
The Petersfield boys continued their rampage from the shot putt a day earlier, but switched places with Kevin Nedrick winning the Discus Under-20 boysin 55.72m and Sanjae Lawrence taking second in 51.79m, VashonMcCarthy of Jamaica College was third in 50.41m. The JAAA will appreciate the effort of the Petersfield boys to reduce its travel expenses.
Shanice Love of Excelsior was in a class of her own, winning the Discus Under-20 girlsin 50.82m as Joel Robinson of Holmwood took second in 42.64m.
