STATEN ISLAND, New York: Calabar High School athletes Shaquane Gordon and Jamal Stephenson marked their indoor track debuts with gold medals on the opening day of the inaugural New York International Showcase on Friday at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.

Gordon, the reigning Carifta Games Under-20 110m hurdles champion, clinched victory in the Boys’ 55m hurdles invitational, setting a new stadium record of 7.01 seconds. The 18-year-old dominated the final, fending off Tyler Burgess of Palmyra High School, New Jersey, who took silver in 7.15 seconds, and Trevon Foster of The Hill School, Pennsylvania, who secured bronze in 7.19.

Daniel Wright of Excelsior High School, who advanced as the second-fastest qualifier with a time of 7.23 seconds in the preliminary round, was disqualified for a false start in the final.

Gordon, meanwhile, had dominated his heat earlier with a time of 7.17 seconds, the quickest performance heading into the medal race.

Stephenson triumphed in the Boys’ 55m dash invitational, crossing the line in 6.33 seconds to edge Connor Salmin of the Bullis School, Maryland, who finished in 6.35 seconds. Terrance Mahomes of West Orange High School, New Jersey, placed third in 6.41 seconds.

Stephenson’s preliminary heat victory in 6.35 seconds had set the tone for his gold-medal performance.

In the Girls’ 55m dash invitational, St Catherine High School’s Rohanna Sudlow secured silver with a time of 7.13 seconds. Ryan Jennings of Timber Creek Regional High School, New Jersey, claimed the title with a swift 7.01-second finish.

Johan-Ramaldo Smythe of Muschett High School, who narrowly missed out on a medal in the Boys’ 55m dash, delivered a better performance in the Boys’ 200m invitational. Smythe clocked 21.55 seconds, securing the second-fastest time across the six heats. Calabar’s Keano Charles and Nickecoy Bramwell placed fourth and sixth overall with times of 21.79 and 21.90, respectively.

Shaun McCoullum of George Washington High School, New York, posted the fastest overall time, clocking 21.47 seconds.

In the Girls’ 200m invitational, Trinidad and Tobago’s Lisa Raye of West Warwick High School delivered a standout performance, winning in 23.45 seconds.

Hydel High’s Nastassia Fletcher was the top Jamaican finisher, placing 11th in 24.64 seconds. Muschett High’s Shanoya Douglas did not compete.

The two-day event concludes on Saturday, with action set to begin at 9:00 am.