By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
Holmwood's Shaneka Parkes prepares to throw the javelin during yesterday's opening day of the National Hurdles and Field Events Championships (NHFEC) at G.C. Foster College. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
HOLMWOOD TECHNICAL'S Shaneka Parkes highlighted yesterday's opening day of the National Hurdles and Field Events Championships (NHFEC) with an impressive throw to win the girls' Javelin Open at G.C. Foster College.
Parkes, the national junior record holder, hurled the javelin 43.28 metres, which was not too far behind her record and personal best (PR) of 43.38 done at the 2002 World Junior Championships.
Parkes defeated last year's Girls' Champs winner Tammi-Lee Kerr of Wolmer's (35.73m) and St. Jago's Nadina Marsh (31.50m).
The Holmwood fifth former was happy with her impressive season opener.
"I think I started pretty well," Parkes said. To throw 43-plus, which is close to my PR, I think it's a good start for me," Parkes told The Gleaner.
Kingston College's Fabian Morgan won the boys' equivalent, throwing 50.83, while Ann-Kay Campbell of St. Andrew won the girls' Class One long jump, leaping 5.94m.
In the girls' Class One discus, Nadia Alexander of St. Hugh's (39.81m) prevailed over Shannika Johnson of Manchester (38.77m) and Wolmer's Monique Edwards (36.99m).
Ramone Birch of JC took the boys' Class Two shot put with a throw of 15.19m. He won ahead of Raymond Brown of Bridgeport (14.33m) and Kemar Hyatt of St. Jago (12.93m).
The girls' Class Four long jump was won by Janelle Facey of Wolmer's (5.00m), this ahead of her team-mate Samantha Francis (4.99m) and Kimberly West of Vere (4.85m).
After four events in the boys' decathlon, Leonard McLennon of St. Jago (3,390 points) is out in front, while Rose-Marie White (2,390 points) is the leader in the girls' heptathlon.
