DEFENDING GIRLS' champions Holmwood Technical are the early pacesetters after day one at the 2004 VMBS Boys and Girls Athletics Championships on at the National Stadium.
After three finals, Holmwood, led by Althea Duncan and Peta-Gaye Beckford, with 21 points ahead of Vere (14), Manning's (12), St. Jago (11) and Manchester (nine) completing the top five.
St. Hugh's (seven), Edwin Allen's (seven), Morant Bay (seven), Wolmer's (six), St. Andrew High (five), Holy Childhood (four), Meadowbrook (three) and St. Elizabeth Technical (two) are the other teams with points.
In the day's first final, the triple jump open, Holmwood's Duncan retained her title with a leap of 12.65 metres to beat Kimora Smith of Morant Bay (12.43) and Kimberly Williams of Vere (12.40). Andrene Miller, who jumped 11.84 for fifth, also contributed to Holmwood points tally very well.
DISCUS FINAL
In the Class One girls' discus final, Beckford threw 38.32, far below what she did last year, but she was able to come out on top again. Beckford, 18, in her final year finished ahead of St. Hugh's Nadia Alexander (37.63) and Monique Edwards of Wolmer's (36.64).
Meanwhile, Geneva Greaves of Manchester won the Class Three event. Greaves threw the discus 34.13 metres to beat Kimberly Smith of Vere (31.76) and Mannings' Venese Simms (31.48).
In the Class Two 200m preliminary, Vere's Sharnetter (24.18), Holmwood's pair of Sonita Sutherland (24.57) and Anastacia Le-Roy (25.05), Edwin Allen's Kimberly Smith (24.99) and Melony McKoy (25.00) have the fastest time going into Saturday's semi-final.
Kaliese Spencer of Manning's (2:15.49), Holmwood's Vanessa Boyd (2:16.24) and Vere's Stacey Bell (2:16.32) lead the qualifiers going into the next round of the Class Two girls 900m. Edwin Allen's Sherene Pinnock (59.64) and St. Andrew High's Trishana McGowan (59.98) are the only two runners who went under one minute in the 400m hurdles Open.
One record was accounted for on the track, Manchester produced a fast 48.10 in the girls Class Four 4x100m relay heats to beat Vere's four-year record of 48.27. Manchester lead Vere (48.55) and Immaculate (49.59).
In the Class One 4x100, Holmwood showed they are the team to beat, clocking 45.78 to lead Vere (45.91), St. Jago (46.49) and St. Andrew (46.70). In the Class Three event, Queen's have the fastest time going into the final, 47.10 ahead of favourite Edwin Allen (47.66) and St. Andrew (47.74).
A. Foster
