Calabar’s 15-y-o phenom clocks Age-Group World Record 45.69 secs over 400m

The final day of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) National Carifta Trials was highlighted yesterday by some super fast performances, chief among them a stupendous 45.69-second clocking by Calabar’s Christopher Taylor in the boys’ Under-18 400-metre event at the National Stadium.

Running out of lane seven, the impressive Taylor blew away the field and sent the moderate crowd into a frenzy with the sub-46-second clocking. The 15-year-old’s dazzling performance also saw him achieving the Age-Group World Record, pulling down Grenadian Kirani James’ previous record of 45.70 seconds.

“I am really comfortable and elated about my performance today (yesterday). My coach just gave me the instruction to come out here and qualify for the Carifta Games, so I am really surprised with the time…to get 45, wow,” an amazed Taylor told the Jamaica Observer.

With the Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships a few weeks away, Taylor added that fans can expect some faster times, but quickly pointed out that he does not intend to push himself too hard.

Taylor won ahead of Devaughn Ellington (47.34sec) of Petersfield High and Leonardo Ledgister (48.20sec) of St Elizabeth Technical.

Junelle Bromfield of St Elizabeth Technical High School ran away with the girls’ equivalent in 53.30 seconds, ahead of Sanique Walker (54.53sec) and Satanya Wright (55.24sec) also of St Elizabeth Technical.

Kingston College’s Akeem Bloomfield then followed suit in the boys’ Under-20 event, clocking a superb 45.41 seconds to win ahead of Terry Thomas (47.05sec) of Greater Portmore and Robin Black (47.18sec) of St Elizabeth Technical.

The girls’ equivalent was won by Aleesha Kelly of Hydel High, who was later disqualified for lane violation. The race was awarded to Tiffany James of Papine High with a time of 53.49 seconds, while Dawnalee Loney (53.59sec) of Camperdown High and Yeaschea Williams (53.75sec) of Dinthhill Technical were promoted to second and third, respectively.

The sensational Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer’s Boys once again clocked another blistering time of 13.22 seconds to win the Under-20 110-metre hurdles event. The 18-year-old was euphoric and applauded the performance after crossing the line ahead of Calabar’s Seanie Selvin (13.42s) and Marvin Williams (13.68s) of St Elizabeth Technical.

Hyde’s time which was run in a positive wind speed of 0.1 metres per second, was unofficially below the champs record of 13.24 seconds set in 2013 by Omar McLeod of Kingston College.

“Coming out here I wanted to dip below 13.5 seconds and I did that so I am very happy with the time,” Hyde told the Jamaica Observer.

The start of the race had some anxious moments which led to the disqualification of Shaquille Shaw of Kingston College and Odario Phillips of Camperdown who both false-started.

Hyde got away cleanly and was quickly ahead of the field, but he had to withstand a challenge from Selvin half-way through the race, before pulling away.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking because it’s my first sprint hurdle race for the season. He (Selvin) is a good hurdler and I expected him to be close to me, so I am happy that he pushed me,” said the reigning World Youth champion, who also won the 400 metres hurdles event on Saturday.

World Youth record holder Yanique Thompson, now representing GC Foster College, won the girls’ equivalent in a time of 13.63 seconds in a positive wind speed of 2.0 metres per second.

The 18-year-old Thompson though not at her peak, did just enough to get the better of Jeanine Williams (13.64sec) of Immaculate Conception, and Holmwood Technical’s Owenieka Watson (13.95sec).

Janeek Brown of Wolmer’s Girls, who finished second in the Under-18 event last year, turned the tables on her opponents. Brown won in a time of 13.43 seconds in a positive wind speed of 0.9 metres per second, ahead Safiya Thompson (13.45sec) of St Jago and Nicolee Foster (13.61sec) of Holmwood Technical.

Sidney Marshall of Manchester High, who was one of the main contenders in the event, fell after hitting the final hurdle, but fortunately for her no extensive damage was done.

The boys’ Under-18 event was run in a negative wind speed of 0.6 metres per second and was easily won by Jordan Roberts of Jamaica College. Roberts sprinted away from the field to win in a time of 13.84 seconds, followed by Chadrick Brown (14.10sec) of Kingston College and Alex Robinson (14.51sec) of Calabar.

Meanwhile, World Youth 200-metre champion Michael O’Hara failed to secure a lane in the final of the Under-20 200-metre event after he eased up at the line in his heat and was pipped by the fast-finishing Nigel Ellis of St Elizabeth Technical. Ellis (21.23s) later finished second, behind St Jago’s Chad Walker, who clocked a very fast 20.97 seconds in a positive wind speed of 0.5 metres per second. Hujaye Cornwall (21.31s) of St Elizabeth Technical was third.

Edwin Allen’s Saqukine Cameron also clocked a fast time of 23.18 seconds which is a new personal best to win the girls’ equivalent which was run in a positive wind speed of 0.2 metres per second. Rene Medley (23.81sec) of Vere Technical came with a late burst of speed to finish second, while Natalliah White (23.98sec) of St Jago was third.

Shaneil English of St Jago High sealed the girls’ Under-18 double when she won the 200 metres event in 24.07 seconds in a negative wind speed of 1.6 metres per second. Her teammate Kimone Shaw (24.30sec) was second and Edwin Allen’s Kasheika Cameron (24.31sec) was third.

Shellece Clarke of Edwin Allen did not take part in the final, but is was unclear what led to her absence.

Calabar’s Xavier Angus, who was second in the Under-18 100-metre dash, showed a lot of class when winning the 200-metre event in a fast 21.08 seconds, with the assistance of a positive wind speed of 1.9 metres per second. Rushane Edwards (21.51sec) of Munro College and Michael Bentley (21.77sec) St Jago were the runners-up.

jamaica observer