Looks like Jonathan Jones isn’t giving up on the 400 just yet.
The reigning CARIFTA 800 metres champion is clearly putting in that early speed work after winning the 300 during last weekend’s New Year’s Classic at the National Stadium.
Turning out for club Elite Distance, Jones clocked 33.73 seconds in the sprint to comfortably beat CARIFTA 800 and 1 500 metres bronze medallist Ronaldo Rock (35.05) and regional 400 hurdles king Rasheeme Griffith (35.08).
The result comes a season after middle distance star shocked most of Barbados by opting to contest the 400 and 800 metres at CARIFTA instead of his customary 800 and 1 500 double.
And Jones may well go that route again this year after the Harrison College schoolboy didn’t run the 600 or 1 200 at this odd distances meet.
Without the favoured Jones in the field, Rock predictably won the 600 metres in one minute 21.34 seconds while Griffith, who left Coleridge and Parry to join Jones at Kolij, also moved up one spot to finish second with a time of 1:23.77.
Former Run Barbados 10k second-place finisher Joshua Hunte (3:08.66) went on to take the open 1 200 metres ahead of teammate and Harrison College student Rio Williams (3:09.07).
It was a particularly pleasing day for the Crumpton Street boys, considering Caleb Massiah that captured both the under-15 boys’ long jump (5.59 metres) and 300 sprint (39.60).
But he had to settle for second in the 150 metres (18.28) behind St George’s sprint sensation Jamarco Gill, who destroyed the field with a time of 17.55 seconds.
Former Combermere athlete turned St Michael schoolgirl Ashlee Lowe also had herself quite the meet while winning both the open women’s 150 and 300 metres in 18.46 and 41.08 seconds, respectively.
Looking to rebound from a disappointing showing at CARIFTA last year, talented thrower Triston Gibbons had a promising 17.47 metres in the under-20 boys’ shot put. (JM)
