KC, Immaculate top Corporate Area Champs

KINGSTON College (KC) and Immaculate Conception were crowned kings and queens of Corporate Area high school track and field after both produced commanding victories at the two-day Championships, which ended at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College (JC), on Saturday. Both teams led from start to finish.

Defending male champions KC retained their title after finishing with 519 points, ahead of JC on 475. Calabar High were third on 283, Wolmer's fourth with 157.5 and Excelsior rounded out the top five with 149 points.

Daijon Budhai, KC's captain who won the Class One discus with a throw of 56.79m, was elated.

"We are happy for the win and this sets the stage for us going into the ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships as we are ready to defend our title," he stated.

On the female side it was one-way traffic as Immaculate picked up their first Corporate Area title after dethroning last year's winners Excelsior High, finishing on 408 points. Excelsior were second with 288, Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha) third on 286, Wolmer's fourth with 220.5 and The Queen's School closed out the top five with 135 points.

Immaculate's head coach Franz Forde was over the moon.

"I am very emotional. This means a lot as we have been planning for this from last year. Incredible job by the coaches, management staff and all the girls who shone in all classes," said Forde.

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES

There were brilliant performances on both the track and in the field. Jason Pitter led the way for KC with a smashing run in the Class Two boys' 400m, storming to a lifetime best and meet record 46.35 seconds, to turn back Calabar's Diwayne Sharpe, who was second in a personal best 46.73. KC's Rajeve Allison was third in a personal best 48.41.

Julius Itubo of KC, who had earlier won the 1500m in a meet record, captured the Class Three 800m in a new meet record and personal best 2:01.31. The JC duo of Ajavi Williams (2:06.03) and Mickoloy Saunders (2:06.82) were second and third, respectively.

JC had two wins in the 4x100m relays, both in record-breaking fashion. In a very close Class Two finish they clocked 40.97 to edge KC, who were also credited with the same time. In Class One they dipped under 40 seconds, clocking 39.78.

RECORD-BREAKING FORM

Sukheri Shay-Smith of Immaculate was in record-breaking form in the Class Four 70m hurdles, clocking a personal best 10.74 for the win ahead of Aleisha McDonald of Alpha (10.88) and Jesenique Scott of St Andrew High (10.98).

Immaculate also got a win from Jada Francis in the Class One discus with 46.15m.

Wolmer's Natrice East completed the Class Two sprint double, winning the 200m in a season best and meet record 23.49 following her 100m victory on Friday.

Wolmer's also secured two 4x100m relay victories, courtesy of their their Class Four and Class One teams.