World Championships representative Ackelia Smith stole the spotlight on the opening day of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships by winning her fourth national women’s long jump title with a leap of 6.81 metres.
Nia Robinson was a close second with 6.80m, while Rhan Sudlow of Kansas State University took third with 6.25m.
In other events Amiel Thomas of G.C. Foster College captured the men’s 5000m title in 16:42.65, ahead of Odane Davidson of Calabar High (16:43.44) and Kemar Leslie of Pureluv Running Team (17:11.57).
Zoeyann Plummer of Excelsior High claimed the first field event title of the championships, winning the Under-18 girls’ discus with 46.71m. Katya Christie of Vere Technical was second with 45.09m, while Jamie-Lee Tulloch of Immaculate High finished third with 40.13m.
Ramona Freemantle of Vere Technical won the Under-20 girls’ javelin with 44.57m. ahead of Immaculate’s Zoelle Jamel (41.31m) and Dacia McDonald (33.06m) completed the top three.
In the senior men’s 400m hurdles heats, Titans Track Club athletes dominated. Pre-race favourite Assinie Wilson was the fastest qualifier in 50.48 seconds, followed by teammate Malik James-King (50.55). Jaheme Bell of Xavier University qualified third fastest in 50.87, while Titans’ Demar Murray advanced with 50.95.
Nicholas Jones of Lacovia High was the fastest Under-18 boys’ 400m hurdles qualifier with 53.05 just ahead of Kingston College’s Raheim McIntosh (53.06). Robert Miller of Hydel continued his impressive season by leading the Under-20 qualifiers with 52.21.
In the 800m, Ratic Walters of Titchfield High led the Under-18 qualifiers with 2:04.1, while Joel Morgan was fastest in the Under-20 section with 1:54.25.
Athletes from Jamaica College dominated the boys’ 100m qualifying rounds. Kai Kelly led the Under-18 qualifiers with 10.85 seconds while teammate Tyler Morgan followed with 10.97. In the Under-20 division, Dante Wilson was quickest with 10.65 ahead of Johan-Ramaldo Smythe of Holland High (10.70) and Tyrece Foreman of St George’s College (10.71).
There were no surprises in the senior men’s 100m heats, as favourite Oblique Seville of Racers Track Club led all qualifiers with 10.09 . Ackeem Blake of Dynamic Speed Track Club followed with 10.11, while Nishion Ebanks of MVP Track Club clocked 10.22 and Gary Card of the University of Technology 10.33.
Competition resumes today at 9:45 a.m. with the Under-18 girls’ javelin final. Track action begins at 10 a.m. with the 400m semi-finals across all age groups and senior divisions.
The day’s schedule will also feature all 1500m finals, the Under-18 and Under-20 400m hurdles finals, and the first appearance of female sprinters in the 100m. The senior women’s 100m semi-finals are set for 7:10 p.m., followed by the men’s at 7:25 p.m. The women’s final is scheduled for 8:53 p.m., with the men’s final at 9 p.m.
