Calabar and Holmwood retain titles at 2008 Championships

Nickel Ashmeade of St Jago created the upset of the 2008 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championship by winning the Class One 200 metres in a star-studded field, which included World Youth champion and national 100m record-holder Yohan Blake, yesterday.

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At the end of the meet at the National Stadium, defending champions Calabar High retained the Boys’ title with 277.5 points, while Holmwood secured their sixth straight lien of the Girls’ crown with 352 points.Kingston College were second in the boys’ standings with 233, followed by St Jago on 155.5, Jamaica College 153, and Wolmer’s on 128 rounding out the top five on the boys’ side.

Andrew Riley of Calabar and Salcia Slack of Holmwood were the overall champion boy and girl, respectively, of the meet.

World Youth 100m and 200m silver medallist, Ashmeade, produced a scorching last 20 metres sprint to catch and nip Calabar’s Ramone McKenzie on the finish-line in 21.04 seconds into a strong head wind (-2.1 p/s).

McKenzie, who had posted 46.32secs to win the 400 metres three hours earlier, was beaten by 0.01 second in his favoured half-lap race. Blake, who led the race for the most part, faded badly and had to settle for bronze in 21.31secs. Incidentally, for the first time in the history of the meet, the top seven finalists went below 22secs. Jason Young of William Knibb was fourth in 21.70, Dexter Lee of Herbert Morrison fifth (21.76), Jamaica College’s Winston Barnes sixth (21.84) and Oshane Bailey of Calabar seventh (21.97). Darrion Bent of Mannings High did not finish the race.

Read More Boys Results – Jamaica Observer

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Holmwood Technical cruised to a sixth straight Girls Championships title as they outclassed the field with a massive 352 points to win by over 130 points as the ISSA/GraceKennedy-sponsored event ended at the National Stadium last night.

The total was almost identical to the 353.5 they scored last year, with Vere (210.5), Edwin Allen (206), Manchester (147) and St Jago (125.5) rounding out the top five.

The champions overcame a number of mishaps, including break-ins on consecutive nights at their Kingston base, to land the title going away.
The Christiana-based school also won three of the six relays, while Edwin Allen landed two.

Read More Girls Results – Jamaica Observer