Douglas the pick of good junior performances

Holland High School’s Shanoya Douglas produced the best of some good performances from the country's junior athletes at the JAAA Puma National Senior and Junior Championships, which ended on Sunday.

The juniors, while vying for places on a number of national teams, have their eyes focused on the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in August.

Douglas has been outstanding on the track all season in both the 100 and 200 metres, and was one of three double winners among the juniors at the championships. The World Under-20 200m silver medallist in Lima, Peru, where she originally finished third but was promoted to second after the disqualification of gold medallist Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands due to a banned substance violation, was out of class among her peers.

The world leader in both the 100 and 200 metres with personal bests of 10.98 seconds and 22.11, Douglas, the double Carifta Games Under-20 champion, easily won both events. After taking the 100 metres on Friday's second day, she returned on Sunday's final day to complete her double by winning the 200 metres in 22.56 seconds.

St Jago High School's Malayia Duncan was also a double winner at the meet. Competing in the Under-18 category, Duncan first romped to victory in the 100m in 11.82 seconds and then the 100m hurdles in 13.20 seconds, twice getting the better of Edwin Allen High School's Daniela Clarke, who ended second in 11.87 and 13.50, respectively.

Jamaica College's Nathaniel Martin captured the sprint double for the Under-20 boys, winning the 100 metres in 10.37 seconds and the 200 metres in 20.82. Both times were personal bests.

Tiana Marshall of Wolmer's Trust High School for Girls continued her unbeaten run in the sprint hurdles over the past two seasons. Marshall, who is ranked third in the world in the Under-20 event with 12.98 seconds, showed her quality, turning back teammate Ackeelah Bell, who was second in 13.33. Fifteen-year-old Edwin Allen High School’s Tashana Godfrey, in a gallant display while negotiating the high hurdles for the first time, finished just behind Bell in third with a personal-best 13.40.

Danielle Dixon of Holmwood Technical, who a few weeks ago transferred from William Knibb High School, raced to an impressive 52.64 seconds to upstage the previously unbeaten Shamieka McLean of Foga Road, who had to settle for second in 52.76.

Stepping up against the big boys, St Jago's Marquies Page made his presence felt in the Boys' Under-20 110m hurdles, speeding to victory in 13.34. Kingston College's Tajoneil Gordon was second in 13.37.

Also competing among more senior athletes, Kingston College's Jason Pitter captured the Boys' Under-20 400 metres in a decent 46.11 seconds, turning back the challenges of William Knibb's Jabari Matheson, second in 46.72 seconds, and Kingston College's Jabulani McLeod, third in 47.05 seconds.

In the field, Jamaica College's Joseph Salmon was the most outstanding performer, winning the Under-20 Boys' discus with a throw of 59.72 metres, which propelled him to the top of the world rankings in the event.

Kingston College's Rikelme Hunter got the better of Jamaica College's Michael Andre Edwards in an epic Under-20 triple jump final, winning with 15.82 metres, with Edwards second with 15.80.