Youngsters impress at Carifta Trials
Published:Tuesday | March 6, 2018 | 12:00 AMHubert Lawrence/Gleaner Writer
Malik James-King of Calabar High School lit up the final day of the JAAA Carifta Trials at the National Stadium on March 4 with a fine performance in the 400-metre hurdles. James-King fought off a determined challenge with a personal best time of 50.59 seconds.
James-King found himself behind 2017 World Under-18 finalist Rovaine Williams of Rhodes Hall High School. A charge at hurdle seven pulled the Calabar fifth-former even and he strode away for the win, with Williams closing in 51.33 seconds.
James-King reckons he can get better.
"I'm aiming for the 49 and I will get it with hard work and dedication."
The only person to beat James-King is Javauney James of STETHS, who also topped Williams at Western Championships last month.
While Kevona Davis and Brianna Williams completed sprint doubles with swift sprints over 200 metres in the under-20 and under-17 age categories, there were distinguished performances in the under-20 girls' 400-metre hurdles and both under-20 800-metre finals. World Under-18 400 hurdles runner-up Sanique Walker of Vere reeled on fast-starting Shian Salmon of Hydel High School to win her pet event in 57.19 seconds.
In the under-20 800 finals Shaquena Foote of Petersfield High zoomed to the win in the fastest time of the season, 2 minutes 06.28 seconds.
In the 200 metres, Davis was off the gas when she crossed the line in 23.11 seconds. The fast-starting Williams finished the under-17 200 in 23.24 seconds. Both races were aided by winds over the allowable limit.
Sprint hurdlers Amoi Brown, Orlando Bennett and Crystal Morrison also caught the eye. Brown won in 13.22 seconds over World Under-18 gold and bronze medallists Britany Anderson and Dazsay Freeman.
Bennett, the reigning Carifta Under-20 champion from Calabar, blitzed the 110-metre hurdles in 13.54 seconds. Morrison, a star in Class Three last year for St Jago High, stretched her 2018 record over current Class Two rival Ackira Nugent of Excelsior High School to 3-1 in the under-17 100-metre hurdles by winning in 13.07 seconds.