For the second time this season, Akela Jones set a new junior national record in the long jump, but did not qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games as the curtain came down on the 2012 National Track and Field Championships and the local season last Sunday night at the National Stadium.
With a leap of 6.35 metres, Jones erased the 6.28 she did at the Louis Lynch Championships. A second jump was also measured at 6.30 metres. Ashley Branch was second with 5.67 metres and multi-eventer Shavonte Bradshaw recorded a personal best 5.52 metres to place third.
Jones, who has already qualified for the World Junior Championships, will be joined by javelin thrower Nicoliai Bovelle who had a personal best 67.84 metres, joining teammate Janeil Craigg who was third overall (64.23) and who had already qualified. Justin Cummins repeated as national champ with 69.14 metres.
Shakera Reece became double national champion, winning the women’s 200 metres in 23.58 seconds. With neither Althia Maximilien (24.01) nor Jade Bailey (23.72 in the heats) facing the starter, Reece had no competition, staying comfortably ahead of Sharon Larrier (23.94) and Ariel Jackson (24.34).
Burkheart Ellis also was crowned double champion, stepping down from 400 metres to win the men’s 200 in 20.96 seconds. He pulled ahead of Nicholas Deshong and Shekeim Greaves, who were also under the North America Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 standard with 21.03 and 21.07 seconds, respectively.
Fallon Forde won the “B” final in 21.85.
Kion Joseph is rounding nicely into international form, clocking a personal best 51.63 seconds as he gets closer to Shane Brathwaite’s junior national record of 51.41 in the 400-metre hurdles.
As this race has played out this season, Joseph came from behind to deny early leader Tramaine Maloney (52.38) and Kemar Norgrove (52.28).
Joseph and Maloney were once again in World Juniors time, while Norgrove added his name to the growing list of NACAC qualifiers.
Tia-Adana Belle won the women’s 400-metre hurdles in a personal best 59.14 and Dario Scantlebury set a new Under-18 Boys’ meet record of 54.02, pulling away from Rivaldo Leacock (56.30) with ease.
With no one to give her the push she needed, Sonia Gaskin was again short of the World Juniors time with 2.09.21 in the women’s 800 metres.
Anthonio Mascoll won the men’s event in 1:48.73, but controversy dogged the race at the end with concerns surrounding his teammates who lingered on the track to pace him home. Jerrad Mason was second in a personal best 1:51.01, .01 over the World Juniors qualifying standard and John Haynes was third in 1:56.12.
However, Henderson Dottin’s and Thorrold Murray’s Olympic hopes both faded. Needing to clear at least 2.28 metres in the men’s high jump, Dottin and Murray both managed 2.15 metres.
Several other meet records were broken. Timeka Jordan had 25.45 in the Under-15 Girls’ 200 metres; Kentone Browne (22.86) in the boys’ race; Leilani Haddock (29.44) in the Under-11 girls’ race; Virgin Islands’ Zakharia Frett (26.61) in the Under-13 Girls’ race and Ainsley Lovell with 2:44.77 in the senior women’s 800 metres.
