On a night when champions proved their mettle, Hydel High’s Taiefa Gowe and St Jago’s Jade-Ann Dawkins delivered dominant performances to successfully defend their titles at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships on Friday.
Gowe shattered a decade-old record in the 2000m steeplechase, while Dawkins extended her reign in the triple jump open for a third straight year as they cemented their status as some of the finest athletes in their events.
Just two days after a gutsy victory in the 1500m, Gowe returned to the track with history in her sights. Not only did she successfully defend her steeplechase title, but she did so in record-breaking fashion, clocking 6:52.82 to obliterate the previous mark of 7:01.07, set by Desreen Montague in 2012.
It was not an easy run, as Edwin Allen’s Sushana Johnson stayed locked in a battle with Gowe for much of the race. But when the final laps approached, Gowe found another gear and pulled away with authority to etch her name in Champs history.
Taiefa Gowe is all smiles after her record-breaking feat. (Photos: Marlon Reid/Loop News)
Johnson, who also took silver last year, had to settle for second place again in 6:55.69, while Holmwood Technical’s Terrica Clarke (7:18.93) rounded out the podium.
Meanwhile, Dawkins showcased true championship pedigree as she battled early struggles before soaring to her third consecutive triple jump open title. Dawkins found herself under pressure early in the competition, as she fouled two of her first three jumps and registered 12.83 m on her only legal attempt at that stage.
However, when the moment demanded it, she delivered a huge 13.11m leap on her fourth attempt, which ultimately secured the gold. Not content with just one big jump, Dawkins followed up with 13.10m and 13.08m, both of which would have also been enough to win the event.
Edwin Allen’s Deijanae Bruce produced a best of 13.01m on her final attempt to take silver, while Hydel’s Sabrina Atkinson (12.85m) secured the bronze with a solid fifth-round jump.