Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
KINGSTON COLLEGE (KC) and St. Jago suffered big blows on yesterday's opening day of the 2006 VMBS/ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships at the National Stadium. However, KC and Wolmer's shared the lead in the boys' division, while Vere led the girls' section.
André Wellington got hurt in the 200 metres and finished a disappointing sixth in 22.82 in heat seven, thus failing to advance in the event. The KC camp confirmed the sprinter's injury but said a final decision on further participation would not be known until today.
St. Jago were also rocked when Latoya King, the World Youth 200m bronze medallist, who was odds-on favourite for the Class Two 200m title, pulled out of the Champs. Her coach, Raymond 'KC' Graham, confirmed her withdrawal after she won heat one of the 200m in 24.62, the second fastest time behind Edwin Allen's Naffene Briscoe.
Graham, who also watched his Class One athlete Shanique Smikle, taken away on a stretcher, said the girls' knee injuries would definitely affect St. Jago's hopes for a top-three finish.
Smikle took part in the 400m hurdles Open and finished fifth in heat two in 62.44.
FIRST GOLD TO VERE
Meanwhile, Vere lead the girls' section with 27 points, five ahead of Edwin Allen (22) and they are then followed by Holmwood (20), St. Andrew High (13) and Immaculate (nine) while KC and Wolmer's (11 points each) head the boys' section over Calabar (six), JC (five) and Munro (three).
In the first final of the day, Vere's Kimberly Williams, for the second year running, struck gold. The 17-year-old Carifta Games Under-17 champion, leapt a personal best 13.18m to beat Holmwood's pair Rosemarie White (13.04m) and Salsa Slack (12.53m) in the triple jump.
The first big upset of Champs came in the boys' Class One long jump when Wolmer's Julian Reid leapt 7.25m to beat favourite and dethroned champion Alain Bailey of KC (7.23m). Calabar's Nicholas Gordon took third with a leap of 7.18 metres.
In the girls' Class Three discus, Vanessa Levy of Edwin Allen threw 30.99m for gold. Veleisha Walker of Immaculate (30.92) and Trishana Williams (30.52 metres) took the minor placings.
The day's final event went to Edwin Allen's Latoya Nation who threw 44.11 metres in the Class One discus. St. Andrew High's Katherine Forrester (39.71) and Holmwood's Deborah Rose (39.62m) finished second and third.
Four girls' finals and three boys' finals are down for today.
