Defending champions Kingston College and St Jago High were the leaders of the boys’ and girls’ sections, respectively, at the end of the first day of the 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships being held at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Among the boys, KC leads with 55 points with Calabar High 24 points behind on 31 after six finals contested on Tuesday’s opening day. The boys from St Jago High also have 31 points. St Elizabeth Technical are in fourth place on 26 points while Jamaica College, one of the pre-championship favourites were lying in fifth on 24 points.

St Jago leads the girls with 81 points after 10 finals. Hydel are close behind on 76 points while defending champions Edwin Allen in search of their sixth consecutive title a further five points behind on 71.

There is a significant drop off to fourth place where you find Wolmer’s with 21 points with many-time champions Holmwood Technical in fifth on 17 points.

KC’s capped off their day with nine points from Tajae Francis, who won the gold medal in the Class I 110m hurdles. Francis won in 13.52 seconds defeating Jaheem Stern of Jamaica College who clocked 13.78 to claim the silver medal.

Excelsior High School’s Radjae Reid won the bronze medal in 15.25s in the race where four of the starters did not finish. Rahyme Christian of Clarendon was ejected after a false start.

In the Class II 110m hurdles finals, Allen Pinto of St Elizabeth Technical won gold in 13.55s. He edged out Andre Harris of St Jago High, who crossed the finish line in 13.57s. The bronze medal went to Amontae Wray of Kingston College, who clocked 13.70.

Daniel Clarke of Kingston College won the Class 3 100m hurdles final in 13.04 in a comfortable victory over Ricoy Hunter of St Elizabeth Technical who took the silver medal in 13.19. Shaquane Gordon of Calabar High School won the bronze medal in 13.28.

Among the girls, Oneka Wilson of Hydel won the Class I 100m hurdles in 13.60 over silver medallist Marissa Simpson of Clarendon College who clocked 13.70. Edwin Allen’s Patreece Clarke claimed the bronze medal in 13.81.

It was 1-2 for Hydel in the Class II event where Kerrica Hill took gold in 13.29 over Shania Myers who was timed in 13.92. Shackelia Green of St Elizabeth Technical ran 13.95 to win the bronze medal.

Camoy Binger of St Jago High won the Class 3 80m hurdles in 11.14 holding off the challenge of Jody-Ann Daley of Hydel High who clocked 11.15 in the blanket finish. Binger’s teammate Briana Campbell made it a St Jago 1-3 when she took bronze in 11.24.

Tiana Marshall of Wolmer’s Girls won the Class 4 Girls 70m finals in 11.01 with Tihanna Reid of Hydel winning the silver medal in 11.06. Kecia King of Vere Technical won the bronze medal in 11.12.

In long jump competition, Kavian Kerr jumped 7.81m to capture the gold medal and nine points for St Jago High School. Luke Brown of Calabar High School jumped 7.65m for the silver medal with Uroy Bryan of Jamaica College winning the bronze medal with his best jump of 7.47m.

Samantha Pryce of Holmwood Technical won the 2000m Steeplechase in 7:07.12. Edwin Allen’s Shanyae Gibson was more than five seconds behind, finishing in 7:13.63. Rushell Johnson of St Jago High won the bronze medal after she crossed the finish line in 7:17.70.

Kirk Dawkins of Kingston College won the boys’ event in a new record of 5:52.74. Calabar’s Rivaldo Marshall was one second behind in 5:53.74 while Jamaica College’s Matthew Gordon clocked 6:04.80 for third.

Kingston College Akeel Hanchard won gold on the javelin establishing a mark of 62.93m. Christopher Young of Edwin Allen won the silver medal throwing the spear 62.12m. Andre Raymond of St Jago High threw 61.18m to win the bronze medal.

Shantae Foreman of St Jago High cleared an impressive 1.84m to win the Class I Girls High Jump competition. She was a class above the rest as Daniela Anglin of Herbert Morrison cleared 1.78 to claim the silver medal. Ackelia Smith of Edwin Allen took third with a clearance of 1.70m.

Hydel’s Shemonique Hazel won the Class 3 Girls long jump with a leap of 6.00m while the silver medal went to Jade-Ann Dawkins of St Jago when she flew out to 5.84m. Shelley-Ann Taylor of Excelsior took the bronze with her jump of 5.70m.

Five finals are on tap for day two of competition including the Class 4 Girls long jump, Girls Class I shot put, the Class 2 Girls discus, Class 2 Girls high jump and the Class 2 Boys long jump.