Good Performances by Jamaican Athletes at National Junior Championships

Michael O'Hara of Calabar continued his brilliant season by setting a world youth leading times in taking the double sprint titles at Jamaica's national junior championships on the weekend.

O'Hara on Saturday won the 100m in a personal best 10.39 seconds before returning on Sunday under stormy conditions to take the 200m title in another personal best  20.75 seconds under stormy conditions at Jamaica's National Stadium. 

O'hara, who missed the Carifta Championships due to chicken pox,  demolished the field coming off the bend in front to win easily ahead of Donald Quarrie's Odane Bernard (21.66) and st. Jago's Ivan Henry 21.92 seconds.

Waseem Williams of Jamaica College was second in the 100m in 10.55 seconds. Green Island's Odail Todd won the Under-20 200m in 21.12 seconds as Oshane Burrell of Manchester  (21.23) and Jevaughn Minzie of Racers TC was third in 21.25.

Jonielle Smith of Wolmer's also took the sprint double winning the U-18 girls 200m in 24.27 after earlier claiming the 100m. Saqukine Cameron had a similar time and was credited with second with Shanice Reid of St Jago third in 25.02.

Smith had on Saturday won the Under-18 100m in 11.69 seconds. Cameron again was second in 11.79 and St. Andrew's Rushell Burton third in 11.83 seconds.

Jazeel Murphy of Racers equalled his personal best 10.25 seconds to win the Under-20 100m. Minzie 10.34 seconds and Todd, a new PB 10.37 were second and third.

Shanice McPherson won the Under-20 event in 11.93 seconds. Janell Kelly was second in 12.04 seconds and Petagay Williams third in 12.37.

Yanique Thompson of Holmwood also established a world youth leading time in the 100m hurdles in 13.23 seconds. Burton was second in 13.65 with Tishanna Monteith of St Jago third in 13.67.

Megan Simmonds of UTech won the Under-20 event in a time 13.38 seconds ahead of St Jago's Chrisdale McCarthy's 13.85 seconds.

In the boy's U-18 400m World Youth Leader Devaughn Baker of Jamaica College won in 46.90 seconds ahead of Martin Manley (47.21 seconds) and Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer's Boys' (47.47).

Papine High's Tiffany James won the Under-18 400m in a season's best 53.44 seconds. World Youth leader Yanique McNeal 55.92 seconds and Segale Brown of Petersfield-570.02 seconds.

World number two Shericka Jackson continued her dominance in winning the girls' Under-20 400m in 53.68. Asaine Hall of Petersfield who ran 54.09 seconds was second with Samantha James of UTech third in 55.86 seconds.

Steven James won the Under-20 boys' 400m in 46.83 seconds to beat Munro College's Herbert Thomas (48.07 seconds) and Manchester high's Derron Wright (48.14 ).

In the field, Wolmer's Boys' Christoff Bryan won the high jump with 2.16m. JC's Akeem Wright was second with 1.95m and Leroy Page of Calabar third with 1.90m.

Immaculate's Safia Morgan won the girls' Under-18 high jump with 1.70m. Manchester's Anastacia Forrester and Shanay McKenzie both cleared 1.65m.

Edwin Allen's Demar Gayle and Paul-Ann Gayle won the Under-18 boys' and girls' discus. Gayle upset Munro College's Kino Dunkley, winning with 50.68m to 50.43m.

Jamaica College's Nicholas Phynn won the Under-20 boys' long jump with 7.31m. Kingston College's Clive Pullen (7.20m) and St Jago's Krishna Christie 7.06m were second and third.

Shanice McPherson won the Under-20 girls' long jump with 6.05m, beating Shantel Pennie of Vere (5.41m).  Tamara Moncrieffe captured the Under-18 triple jump with 12.09m ahead of Shardia Lawrence's 11.80m.

Edwin Allen High's Demar Gayle produced a brilliant series to win the boys' Under-18 shot put with a personal best 18.32m. Vashon McCarthy of Ascot was second also with a PB 17.39m and Munro College's Kino Dunkley was third with a personal best 17.10m.

St Jago's Roje Jackson-Chin won the boys' Under-18 long jump with a wind aided 7.26m (2.1m/s), Ajani James of Jamaica College was second with 7.12m (2.8m/s) and Campion's Lorne Barrett third with 6.83m.