As expected, the male section of the Corporate championships was dominated by Kingston College (507 pts) and Jamaica College (427 pts), with Calabar (335 pts) placing a distant third. Based on these results, an argument could be made that Kingston College will easily dethrone the defending champions Jamaica College. But closer examination of these results and the results at previous development meets this season, tell us that Jamaica College still has a fighting chance of defending their championship.
Class Four results
We all know that the boy’s championships do not include events for class four athletes. So in analyzing the results, the class four points scored by both teams should be thrown out. Kingston College totally dominated the class four results, but Jamaica College also scored well in this class and the Kingston College advantage was not more than 15 points.
Class Three results
This is where the ISSA boy’s champs may be decided. Kinston College was very strong in this class with Nyrone Wade, Taj-Oniel Gordon, Amari Phillips and Nahashon Ruto dominating the events in class III. Jamaica College’s hopes seemed to be pinned on middle distance runners Samuel Creary and Glory Clarke who both won minor medals at the corporate championships. But JC won very few points in the sprints and hurdles.
Missing Athletes
Both Jamaica College and Kingston College had championship stars that were missing in action. Usually, these athletes are nursing slight injuries and these teams would be careful about using these athletes in a meet so close to champs.
Jamaica College sprinters Hector Benjamin, Christopher Scott and Malique Smith-band had been running well earlier in the season, but they did not participate in the corporate area championships. Class one sprint hurdlers Jahiem Stern and Neil Mathew-Sutherland have both won medals at previous champs, but were glaringly missing at these championships.
Kingston College also had a few athletes who were missing from these championships. Uri Lawrence (100m, 200m) and Shaemar Uter (400M) are the two top sprinters in this category, while 400M hurdlers
Rayon Campbell (class I) and Jordan Mowatt (class II) who were both expected to lead the championship charge in this event, were also missing at the corporate meet.
More Cause for Concern
There were a few athletes who were either withdrawn in the middle of the competition, or had bad falls in the hurdling events. There were also other athletes who seemed to be nursing minor injuries at the end of their races.
The most prominent Jamaica College athlete in this category is Anthony Mark-Miller who started the 200m finals but stopped after a couple of strides. His teammate Jaden Brown did not complete his 400M hurdles heat after hitting a hurdle and falling heavily. Hopefully both athletes will report fit for champs.
Kingston College also had its problems, with Decathlon favorite Isaiah Patrick hitting a hurdle and falling heavily, while class three 400m favorite, Shavaughn Brown did not turn up for the finals. At the end of the class II 400M, Marcinho Rose was seen in a bit of discomfort, so his fitness might be of great concern.
THE POSITIVE SIGNS
On a more positive note, both teams are pleased with the form of their top athletes. So Jamaica College are quite pleased with the form of middle distance athletes Handal Roban and Jvoughn Blake in class one, and Rasheed Pryce and Tyrone Lawson in class two as they look to continue their dominance of the middle distance events. But what is most pleasing, is 400M runner Deandre Watkins looking to return to top form after missing last year’s champs due to injury.
Kingston College on the other hand will be pleased with the form of high jumper Aaron McKenzie and thrower Altwayne Edward who will both be expected to lead the charge for maximum points in the field events. In the sprinting and hurdling events, Nyrone Wade, Taj-Oniel Gordon and Bouwahjgie Nkrumie have continued to show their early season form.
First year athletes dominating
But it is the form of their first year athletes (athletes entering a new class) that will have track fans astounded.
Jamaica College’s first year class one sprinter Jaiden Reid won the 200M in a season leading time of 20.91. Only Brian Levell of Edwin Allen has run faster. Kemarrio Bygrave won the 800m in class II last
year, but with Handal Roban and Jvoughn Blake dominating the event in class one, he is trying his hand at the 400m. His 46.8 split in the 4 X 400m relay says that he made the right choice.
Kingston College’s first year athletes are even more dominant. Taj-Marques White was considered a short sprinter and hurdler in class III last year, but his exploits in the 400m has been astounding. He ran 48.3 at the corporate meet and is now leading in the 400M rankings. Antonio Forbes ran 51.1 in the class I 400m hurdles and is now ranked number two in the class. But it is first year horizontal jumper Jaden Hibbert, who jumped an astounding 7.80m in the long jump and 15.99m in the triple jump who leads in the ranking in both events.
Conclusion
Based on the results so far, Kingston College must be favored to take the crown from Jamaica College. But due to the uncertainty of athlete’s availability (injuries and mishaps) on the day, Jamaica College still has a fighting chance to defend their title. They will however need to show vast improvement in class III, if they are to mount a serious defense of their title.
writer by Oliver Harris