KINGSTON, Jamaica — With a very busy schedule expected on Saturday’s final day of action, Christopher Taylor of Calabar chased and broke the Class Two Boys’ 400m record in the heats on the opening day of the 2016 Boys and Girls’ Championships on Tuesday.
It is understood that Taylor was instructed by his coach Michael Clarke to go for the record on the first day so as to take the pressure off himself on what is expected to be a loaded final day where he is scheduled to race in four events.
First day, big record!
Chris Taylor has broken the Boys' Class 2 400m by running 46.33s in his earlier heat! ? pic.twitter.com/uQzzBCp68C
— FLOW Jamaica (@FLOWJamaica) March 15, 2016
Taylor, the overwhelming favourite to win the title, destroyed his competitors in the first heat of the competition on his way to setting a new record of 46.33 seconds.
He was breaking the previous meet record of 46.64 seconds, set by Devaughn Baker of Jamaica College in 2013.
His Calabar teammate Brandon Heath also booked his place in the semi-finals in Class Two, this after winning heat three with a time of 49.56.
Also looking good in the Class Two boys 400m heat was Anthony Coxx of St.Jago who posted 48.88 secs to win heat two.
Romel Plummer of Munro College also looked impressive winning the fourth heat with a time of 48.64 secs.
Taylor will race in the class two 400m semi-finals on Friday at 2:05pm with the final set for Saturday at 2:30pm.
In the Class One Boys heats, defending champion Akeem Bloomfield of Kingston College effortlessly cruised into the semi-final with a winning time of 48.36 seconds.
Akeem Bloomfield quite easily wins Heat 1 of the Boys Class 1 400m in a time of 48.36s! #flowchamps pic.twitter.com/HIvpbkKZgE
— FLOW Jamaica (@FLOWJamaica) March 16, 2016
Bloomfield, who set the championships record last year with a 44.93 secs performance, has the fourth fastest time from the heat.
Rogay Granston of Holmwood Technical posted the fastest time of the day with 47.51, with Greater Portmore’s Terry Thomas (47.91) being the only other runner under 48 seconds.
Calabar duo Anthony Carpenter (48.69) and Aykeeme Francis (48.57) have also booked their places in the semis.
In the class one girls preliminaries, Junelle Bromfield of St. Elizabeth Technical posted the fastest time of the qualifying round with 53.63 while fellow title contender Ashley Williams of Holmwood Technical won her heat with a time of 55.07.
Shannon Kalawan of Edwin Allen High also advanced to the semi-final after running 54.37 in her heat.
