Hydel High’s Taiefa Gowe produced a composed and strategic run to capture the Girls’ Class 1 1500m title on Day 2 of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships at the National Stadium on Wednesday night, outlasting a spirited challenge from Holmwood Technical’s Cindy Rose in one of the most exciting races of the evening.

In a race that saw the lead change hands multiple times, Gowe surged in the final stretch to win in 4:37.34, edging Rose who clocked 4:38.22. Ashara Frater of Vere Technical finished strongly to secure third place in 4:38.56, with all three athletes finishing within a second and a half of each other.

Earlier in the evening, the Class 2 1500m final featured a standout performance from Alikay Reynolds of Alphansus Davis High, who controlled the race from start to finish to take gold in 4:41.29. She held off a determined challenge from Jovi Rose of Holmwood Technical, who finished second in 4:42.71, while Rihanna Morgan of Hydel High claimed third in 4:43.81.

The Class 3 final showcased the future of Jamaica’s middle-distance running, with Denique Palmer of Edwin Allen High running a composed race to take the top spot in 4:44.44. Alexia Palmer of Sydney Pagon Academy finished second in 4:46.89, and Shameika Dennis of STETHS crossed the line third in 4:47.89.

With strong showings across all three classes, the 1500m finals highlighted both the depth and growing strength of Jamaica’s girls’ distance running. Gowe’s victory in Class 1 capped off a night of high-quality competition, marked by disciplined pacing, thrilling finishes, and emerging talent across the board.