RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

MOST of the country's leading senior athletes opened their season in fine style at Saturday's Queen's/Grace Jackson meet at the National Stadium.

Stephenie Ann McPherson, Christine Day, and Shericka Jackson led the way among the females, with Oral Thompson, Josef Robertson, and Edino Steele the males who did well.

Commonwealth Games 400m champion, Stephenie McPherson of MVP, produced the fastest time of the day in the women's 800 metres with a record run. Competing in heat one of the two-lap event, she ran a controlled race, to move away at the end over Racers', Ristananna Tracey, clocking 2:10.2 to break the old meet record of 2:11.27, set in 2008 by Sonita Sutherland.

McPherson's teammate, Christine Day, was also inside the old record as she won her heat in 2:10.9, ahead of UTech's Janieve Russell (2:11.5).

Former Vere Technical standout, Shericka Jackson, gave a smart performance in her pet event, the 200m, as she turned back MVP's, Shericka Williams to win in 22.9 seconds.

Williams, was second in 23 seconds, with the improved Chanice Bonner, the former Queen's High and Holmwood Technical sprinter, now representing UTech, coming in third overall, after winning her heat in 23.1seconds.

Favourable start

After dominating schoolgirl sprinting last year, former Edwin Allen High Christania Williams, representing UTech, had a favourable start in an unfamiliar event for her, the 400m, where she finished second overall in 55.0 seconds, behind overall winner, Kedisha Dallas (54.6) seconds of G.C. Foster.

Bertland Cameron's Blazers team had a quinella in the men's 200m. Former national 400m champion, Oral Thompson, was the quickest over the distance, winning in 20.8 seconds, ahead of teammate Josef Robertson, in 20.9 seconds and MVP's, Riker Hylton in 21.0 seconds.

Racers' Edino Steele ran well in the open 800m to finish second in 1:53.6, behind Kegan Campbell of G.C. Foster (1:53.2) with Campbell's teammate, Rory Rhoden, third in 1:54.0.