Muschett High’s Shanoya Douglas signaled her intent for this year's track and field season with a standout performance at the Sprint Fest at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College, on Friday.
Douglas, the 200 metres bronze medalist at last year’s World Under-20 Championships, delivered a season-opening time of 23.62 seconds in the Class Two half-lap event. That was the fastest time among all female competitors, as she comfortably won her heat ahead of Wolmer’s Girls’ Natriece East (25.10s) and Tiana Marshall (25.51s).
“I am very pleased with the win in my opening run of the season. I was not under any pressure to run a fast time, as I just did what I had to do by winning. I just followed the instructions given to me by my coach, as I have been training hard for the upcoming season,” she said shortly after catching her breath.
In other notable female performances, Abigail Wolfe of Wolmer’s recorded the second-fastest time on the day, as she finished tops in the Class One event in a flat 25.00 seconds. She edged out Tianna Rhooms (25.42s) of St Mary High and Hydel’s Rochelle Wint (25.57s).
St Mary High’s Shayon Smith topped Class Three with a new personal best of 25.81s, while Merl Grove’s Salonica Graham thrilled supporters with a Class Four victory in a personal best of 26.78s.
The boys’ events also showcased fierce competition, where St. Catherine’s Ian Baker clocked 21.44s to top Class One rivals. He just won ahead of William Knibb’s Sanjay Seymour, who clocked the same time in a photo finish. Keano Charles (21.50s) of Calabar was third.
Meanwhile, Jamaica College’s Malique Dennis delighted the home crowd with a 22.05s clocking in the Class Two event, ahead of Byron Walker of Calabar (22.15s) and St. Jago’s Rushane Richards (22.50s).
St Jago’s Jevaney Findlay reigned supreme in Class Three with a 22.55s clocking. It was a one-two finish for the Monk Street-based team as Rajaun Romelly (22.56s) was second, while Calabar’s Rajeve Allison (23.28s) took the other runner-up spot.
With the Sprint Fest providing an exciting start to the season, all eyes will now be on Saturday’s 31st staging of the Purewater/R. Danny Williams/JC Development Meet, to be held at the same venue, as several athletes are again expected to signal their readiness to dominate in the months ahead.