Your Weekly Guide to High-School Competitions

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Omar McLeod of Kingston College ran into the final hurdle during the boys' 400m hurdles open but was still able to claim third spot in the event at the Central Hurdles and Relays meet at G.C. Foster College last Saturday.

Javon Francis and his Calabar High School teammate Michael O'Hara were double winners at last weekend's Central Hurdles and Relays meet at G.C. Foster College.

Competing in the 400 metres hurdles open, Francis won his heat in 54.35 seconds for the top time of the day ahead of the Kingston College pair of Devonte Dennis (54.56) and Omar McLeod (55.17).

Francis also topped the Class One 400m in a meet record of 47.65. Manchester High's Lennox Williams was a close second with 47.95.

O'Hara, rated as one of the best talents in Class Two, topped the Class Two 110m hurdles in 14.31 then returned for a record 49.92 run in the 400m.

There were some outstanding results among the female hurdlers with Camperdown High's Peta-Gaye Williams leading the way in Class Two. Williams sprinted away from her rivals for an impressive 13.87 seconds as Wolmer's Girls' Davina Young (14.67) and Edwin Allen's Shanice Lewis (14.78) were second and third, respectively.

In Class Three, St Andrew High's Rushelle Burton came out on top with 11.46 seconds as Brittani Thompson of Hydel was second in 11.57 and Excelsior High's Renee Shaw, 12.28, for third.

Chrisdale McCarthy of St Jago High continued her fine form in Class One, winning in 14.21 ahead of teammates Shenell Francis, 14.48 and Tatiana Wolfe, 14.61.

Selected results

St Jago High's Chrisdale McCarthy winning the Class One girls' 100m hurdles at the Central Hurdles and Relays meet at G.C. Foster College last Saturday. McCarthy clocked 14.21 seconds. - Ricardo Makyn PHOTOS

GIRLS

Under-17 300m hurdles:

1. Tamara Clarke (Vere) 45.87, 2. Safiya Thompson (St Jago) 46.15, 3.

Tiffany Higgins (St Jago) 46.39, 4. Zinedine Russell (Convent of Mercy) 46.41.

17-19 400m hurdles:

1. Ronda White (G.C. Foster) 1:00.53, 2. Shantea Green (Holmwood) 1:01.15, 3. Britaney Duncan (Hydel) 1:01.87, 4. Andrenette Knight (Vere) 1:02.05.

Under-13 70m hurdles:

1. Rackiel Gayle (Edwin Allen) 11.47, 2. Ebony Forbes (St Andrew High) 11.54, 3. Shanna Kaye Wright (Holy Childhood) 11.72, 4. Jadda Campbell (Hydel) 11.79.

BOYS

Under-17 400 m hurdles:

1. Dejean Battick (KC) 58.37, 2. Duran Crooks (Munro) 58.87, 3. Amario Ferron (Hydel) 59.26, 4. Shemar Stona (KC) 59.49.

Under-14 100m hurdles:

1. Kamali Simpson (Monk Street) 13.98, 2. Javon Shaw (Calabar) 14.05, 3. Alex Robinson (Calabar) 14.34, 4. Tadjee Thompson (KC) 14.58.

The GraceKennedy Financial Group has reinforced its commitment to schoolboy cricket for the new season through a $9.5 million sponsorship deal.

The group, which consists of First Global Bank, First Global Financial Services, Allied Insurance Brokers and Jamaica

International Insurance Company, has been instrumental in the development of local cricket, having moulded a cadre of outstanding players, including several on the national cricket team.

An important element of the group's sponsorship is the Douglas Orane Award, which recognises and rewards outstanding players who strike a balance between their work on the field and their academics. The award is presented annually to one outstanding student and includes a $100,000 per year scholarship for three years, tenable at any locally accredited university.

Campion College clipped Wolmer's Boys 3-2 and Gaynstead High edged Norman Manley High by a similar 3-2 scoreline in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Under-16 table tennis competition last Tuesday.

It was the second victory for Campion who trounced newcomers Bridgeport 4-1 last Tuesday.

Gaynstead is coached by former national player Sandra Riettie, Gaynstead by Matthew Dawson, Norman Manley by Kevin Hemmings and Wolmer's Boys by Rohan Schloss.

Play in the rural section of the competition will begin today.