KINGSTON, Jamaica (Sporting Alert) — Defending champions Edwin Allen and Calabar are confident about retaining their respective titles heading into the final of the ISSA Boys & Girls Champs in Kingston, on Saturday.
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A total of 49 finals are on the schedule for day five and the pre-champs favourites are expected to score heavily in most of them.
On the female side, Edwin Allen lead the points standings after 20 events with 131.50 points, but Hydel High are still battling in second place with 113 and St. Jago are sitting third with 86.33.
The men’s side sees bedtime leaders Calabar entering the final day with a 23 point lead — after closing day four with 116 points after 17 events.
A banged up Kingston College are still making things interesting in the title race, as they sit second with 93 points and they are followed by Jamaica College, who are on 90 in third.
One of the highlighted titles up for grab on Saturday are the 400m crowns for all classes.
Man of the moment Christopher Taylor of Calabar is on pace for a 200m and 400m sprint double in the boy Class Two and he is a firm favourite to break both records if conditions are in his favour.
Another interesting battle is expected in the Class One boys 400m, which will feature event leader Akeem Bloomfield of Kingston College, as well as St Jago pair Nathon Allen and Martin Manley.
On the girls’ side, Dawnalee Loney of Camperdown has been heavily picked to win the Class One title after continuing her good form at the championships in the semifinals.
Michael O’Hara vs Jaheel Hyde
Another event of interest will be the Class One boys 110m hurdles final, which sees Calabar’s Michael O’Hara, the 100m champion going up against Wolmer’s Jaheel Hyde, the 400m hurdles champion, who broke the national junior record and set a champs record on Friday night over the one lap obstacle.
The girls Class One 100m hurdles final could also produce something special, as Peta-gay Williams of St. Jago High, who set a record in the semis, is backing herself to run even faster than the 13.56 seconds she clocked on Friday.
Kimone Shaw of St Jago targets the Class Three sprint double when she leads the way in the 200m for her age group, her teammate Joanne Reid will be hoping to do the same in Class Four, but Natalliah Whyte (Jago) will need to get through Saqukine Cameron of Edwin Allen if she wants to take home the Class One sprint double.
Cameron says she is determined to win the 200m crown on Saturday after she shockingly picked out of the 100m in the heats.
Also to be decided on Saturday’s final day are the 4x100m sprint relay titles for all classes, as well as the open 4x400m and sprint medley open relays.
