Raymond Graham, STAR Writer

Calabar High's Class Two 400 metres sensation, Christopher Taylor, delighted his fans with a 47.25 seconds run in winning his heat on the opening day of the 2015 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships.

Taylor's teammate, Anthony Carpenter, also won his heat, but clocked a much slower 48.34. Other second-round qualifers were Kingston College's (KC) Tyreke Brayn (49.63) and St.Elizabeth Technical Jauvaney James who looked easy in winning his heat in 49.83.

KC's Twayne Crooks led all qualifiers in Class One bouncing home in 47.23. His teammate, Akeem Bloomfield, won his heat in 48.16 while the St Jago High pair of Martin Manley and Nathon Allen won their heats in 48.23 and 48.22, respectively, to move on to Friday's semi-finals.

Overall it was not a great day for KC who are hoping to dethrone defending champions Calabar. In the Class One long jump, Shammawi Wellington failed to advance to today's ' final set for 5:55 p.m. Gavin Gibson (6.86m) will represent KC in the final, while Jullane Walker (6.84m) and Travis Riley (6.82m) will compete for Calabar. The leading qualifier was Jamaica College's Obrien Wasome with 7.54m.

Earlier, in the girls' Class Four 70 metres hurdles, St Jago High's Crystal Morrison advanced to tomorrow's semi-finals with the fastest time after clocking 10.70 seconds in winning her heat. Edwin Allen High's Lisandra Brown (10.83) and Riana Battick of Convent oF Mercy (Alpha), 10.86, won their heats to advance as the second and third fastest qualifiers.

In the Class Three 80m hurdles, Shanette Allison of Holmwood Technical topped her heat in 11.41 seconds. Hydel High's Jada Campbell (11.54) and Kimora McLeod of St Jago High, 11.70 were second and third fastest.

Class Two 100m hurdles favourite, Janeek Brown of Wolmer 's Girls, and Trishauna Hemmings of Glengoffe High were the top qualifiers here after winning their heats in 13.82. Patrice Moody of Edwin Allen was third best with 13.89.

Competition on today's second day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with four events simultaneously. The events are long jump Class Four girls, shot put Class One girls, discus Class One boys and the first event for decathlon boys, the 100 metres.

Six finals will be contested today, two on the track and four in the field.

The track finals are the 2000 metres Steeplechase open for girls at 9:25 p.m. and the boys 2000m steeplechase final at 9:40 p.m. In the field the first final will be long jump Class Two boys at 3:35 p.m. to be followed by the girls' Class One discus throw at 5:05 p.m., shot put Class Two girls at 5:30 p.m. and Class One boys long jump at 5:55 p.m,