Penn Relays: Three-peat in triple jump for St Jago’s Dawkins

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania

St Jago High’s Jade Ann Dawkins won her third straight Championship of America triple jump title at the Penn Relays yesterday with a winning distance of 13.18 metres.

Dawkins joined former Vere Technical and national triple jumper Kimberly Williams who also won three consecutive triple jump titles at the prestigious meet.

On a day that saw Jamaican female athletes picking up three wins, Dawkins produced the second and third-best ever marks in the competition, with her final attempt measuring 13.16m. Hydel High’s Sabrina Dawkins finished second with 12.51m while Mikayla Longmore of Holmwood Technical was fourth with 12.21m.

“I feel great to know that I was able to come here and defend my title and also win for the third straight time. I gave it my all and I was successful, and I would like to thank my family, coach, and God for this, as their support made all the difference,” said Dawkins.

Another defending champion, Shanniqua Williams of St Andrew High, retained her title in the Championship of America high jump final after clearing the bar at a personal best 1.82m. It was another keen tussle between Williams and Wolmer’s Girls’ Danielle Noble for top spot. For the first time this season, Williams got the better of her rival. Noble, in her first defeat of the season, had to settle for second with 1.77m.

“Pleased to come here and defend my title and I am extremely happy. Producing a personal best makes me even happier, and a big thank you first to God, my family, and coaches – especially coach Keith McLaveish of Harbour View Primary, who unearthed my talent in primary school, and my current coach, Ruel James,” Williams said after her win.

THIRD WIN

Excelsior High’s Najhada Seymoure picked up the third win of the day in the field, capturing the Championship of America discus title with a throw of 51.01m. Able Mills (50.09m) of St Catherine High, Jameila Young (47.54m) of Clarendon College, and Abigail Bennett (46.99m) of Merl Grove High finished second, third, and fourth, respectively.

In a heartbreaking moment, St Elizabeth Technical’s Chloe Palmer – who led for most of the way in the long jump final – had to settle for second with 6.02m, as Lilly Van Beek of James River, Virginia, used her final attempt to win with 6.07m. Rohanna Sudlow of St Catherine High was third with 5.88m, while Dejanea Bruce of Edwin Allen took fourth with 5.20m.

Kimeka Smith of Excelsior rounded out another top-three finish for the Jamaicans, placing third in the shot put with a heave of 14.53m. There was major disappointment, however, for overwhelming favourite and Carifta Games under-20 champion and record-breaker Marla-Kaye Lampart of Clarendon College. Lampart failed to advance to the final round, finishing 11th overall with 12.16m. She was reportedly affected by a fractured arm sustained after her record-breaking throw at the Carifta Games.