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Champs 2016 was good to the last drop with spine-tingling performances. Once again, the high drama that was on display supports the view that the key rivals rarely flinch from battles. Calabar High School is still basking in the afterglow of their victory and with five consecutive victories now under their belt, the lumbering giant in local track and field is aiming to add another title to its collections. The Red Hills Road-based team has remained undeterred this season despite sounds from the critics that their winning dynasty will end at Champs 2017. Hot whispers continue to permeate the air that a new champion will emerge. The world will, no doubt, have a frontline view of this spectacle of an event via live streams. They will get a chance to witness the actions as they unfold, of the hottest high school track and field event in this part of the hemisphere. A litany of changes implemented recently has now placed greater restrictions on athletes participating at Champs. This has set off a firestorm of debates in the public spheres. The changes are presumably designed to thwart exploitive actions against athletes. But they have been met with block wall resistance from a gauntlet of coaches and other mainstream sports purists. A middle of the road position has been ostensibly arrived at, but the issue does not appear it will get total unanimity in the short run. The debates therefore rage on. From all indications, Calabar and Kingston College are on a collision course. KC is making a move to restore lost pride as their defeat in 2016 was particularly galling. The North Street Team is sublimely confident they will turn the table on the defending champions. Their long spell in the wilderness serves as a stark reminder that they can illafford to enter Champs with sleep-walkers’ confidence, instead, would need to dig in their heels for the victory. As fans gear up to shout from the tailpipe, one can expect the usual throwing of gibes that commonly draws good-nature camaraderie. Join us once again as we journey through the pages of Boys Champs’ Preview. Read the hot predictions as well as the stimulating event-by- event commentary of what is expected to be unravelled at Champs 2017. LONG JUMP CLASS II Record: Paul Thompson (Munro) – 7.70m (1998) PURPLE BLAST OFF 1. S. Lowe (K. C.) ________________________ 2. W. Pinnock (K.C.) ________________________ 3. T. Johnson (C.H.S.) ________________________ 4. M. Wellington (J.C.) ________________________ 5. L. Reid (C.H.S) ________________________ 6 D. Tomlinson (Gr.Isl.) ________________________ 7. M. Beecher (J.C.) ________________________ 8. J. Christian (Cl.C.) ________________________ FINALISTS Shaquille Lowe is the only returning finalist from last year having placed sixth with a leap of 6.76m. Two years ago, Lowe produced 7.03m at a development meet and returned this season with another big leap of 7.05m. The latter was done at the Anthwick Corporate Area Development Championships where he edged his team mate, Wayne Pinnock, into second place. Pinnock also went over the 7-meter mark for first time in his career, registering a leap of 7.02m. Both athletes aim to give KC a rollicking start aimed at mounting a serious challenge for the Mortimer Geddes Trophy. SEASON’S BESTS: Pinnock (K.C.) – 7.25m, Lowe (K.C.) – 7.09m, Tomlinson (Gr.Isl.) – 6.81m, Johnson (C.H.S.) – 6.72m, Reid (C.H.S.) – 6.62m, 44 Wellington (J.C.) – 6.60m, Walter (Cl.C.) – 6.57m, T. Segree (Munro) – 6.55m. LONG JUMP CLASS I Record: Leon Gordon (Vere) – 7.87m (1987) SILKY SMOOTH AND CONSISTENT 1. C. McLeod (K.C.) ________________________ 2. D. Creary (Wol.) ________________________ 3. P. Dudley (J.C.) ________________________ 4. D. Bogle (C.H.S.) ________________________ 5. S. Coke (K.C.) ________________________ 6. G. Allen (C.H.S.) ________________________ 7. S.Willis (J.C.) ________________________ 8. T. Dunn (Munro) ________________________ FINALISTS Carey McLeod has risen like a phoenix from the ashes. The former Garvey Maceo athlete emerged from relative obscurity, becoming a brass ring of an iconic star. Undefeated among his peers for the 2017 track season, McLeod has set the bar extremely high with a string of top draw performances. At the Youngster Goldsmith Athletic Classics, he won with a huge leap of 7.50m ahead of his team mate, Shakwon Coke, who posted 7.05m. He was the best placed schoolboy at the Gibson/McCook Relays when he registered 7.47m. He returned to win convincingly at the Corporate Area Champs to complete a trifecta of victories. Dameon Creary returned to his Heores Circle base after doing a one year stint at KC. A fourth-place finisher last year, he is set to mount a challenge for the gold medal and his 7.30m leap to win at the Camperdown Classics, has provided enough of a morale booster for him to achieve this. SEASON’S BESTS: McLeod (K.C.) – 7.55m, Creary (Wol.) – 7.30m, Coke (K.C.) – 7.27m, Bogle (C.H.S.) – 7.21m, Allen (C.H.S.) – 7.12m, Palmer (Mona) – 7.04m, McFarlane (K.C.) – 7.03m, Thompson (St.G.C.) – 6.99m. POINTS SUMMARY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT KC has predictably raced into the lead and seems set to vindicate the experts’ pronouncements that a post to post victory is on the cards. On 29 points after two events, the North Streetbased school is determined to ease the long spell of relatively flat performances that have kept them in the wilderness since their 2009 victory. Coach Neil Harrison believes he has found the winning formula and the unabated dominance of his charges this season, is the smoking-gun evidence that victory may become a reality for the purples. Calabar is currently in a better position than they were last year at this juncture, which should bode their chance well to successfully defend their title. Points Summary: K.C. [29pts] C.H.S. [18pts] J.C. [15pts] St. J. [0pts]
Roje Stona DISCUS CLASS I Record: Travis Smikle (C.H.S.) – 66.88m (2011) VICTORY IS JUST A ‘STONA’ THROW AWAY 1. R. Stona (St.J.) ________________________ 2. K. Nedrick (Peters.) ________________________ 3. G. Cyrus (J.C.) ________________________ 4. P. Barnett (Xlcr) ________________________ 5. K. Mitchell (C.H.S.) ________________________ 6. D. Cope (Peters.) ________________________ 7. C. Graham (Mead.) ________________________ 8. Z. Campbell (K.C.) ________________________ FINALISTS Travis Smikle’s record may not be in jeopardy of being broken, but the event is shaping up to be one of the dramatic stories of Champs. Although it must be said that Roje Stona is the prohibitive favourite for the gold medal, it may not come as a surprise if Kevin Nedrick, Gordon Cyrus or Phillip Barnett steals the show. Throughout the season there have been awe-inspiring performances from key rivals, particularly the little-known Cyrus. Behind Stona, the top eight listed here have traded places in the winners’ circle. Stona boasts six victories during the season but none more special than the 60-meter throw at the Carifta Trials, which would have stunned him and fans alike. His 60.50m evokes memory of Smikle’s venture in the then virgin 60-meter territories in 2011 before he eventually broke the Champs’ record. SEASON’S BESTS: Stona (St.J.) – 60.50m, Nedrick (Peters.) – 59.70m, Cyrus (J.C.) – 56.37m, Cope (Peters.) – 54.42m, Barnett (Xlcr) – 53.80m, Mitchell (C.H.S.) – 52.83m, Campbell (K.C.) – 52.58m, Graham (Mead.) – 51.46m. SHOT PUT CLASS II Record: Ashina Miller (C.H.S.) – 17.41m (2009) VICTORY IS <strong>THE</strong> NEW NORM 1. C. Brown (Peters.) ________________________ 2. A. Symilie (Ed.A.) ________________________ 3. N. Cockett (K.C.) ________________________ 4. D. Brown (Gr.Isl.) ________________________ 5. N. Reid (C.C.) ________________________ 6. T. Tate (Peters.) ________________________ 7. G. Duffus (K.C.) ________________________ 8. J. Edwards (J.C.) ________________________ FINALISTS Shane Buchanan Last year Daniel Cope and Courtney Lawrence placed first and third respectively in this event to again put Petersfield in the spotlight. New kid on the block Christopher Brown has now positioned himself to bring more glory to the school, clearly confirming that the school’s success in the throws is not a flash in the pan. Brown has been dominant all season and the distances he produces are of gold medal quality. His most important victories came at Western Champs and at the STETHS invitational, where he threw 15.49m and 15.27m respectively. In fact, he is very consistent over the 15-meter mark this season. Anthony Symilie, with a heave of 15.02m, is the only other athlete to achieve this feat. SEASON’S BESTS: Brown (Peters.) – 15.49m, Symile (Ed.A.) – 15.02m, D. Brown (Gr.lsl.) – 14.98m, Cockett (K.C.) – 14.90m, Reid (C.C.) – 14.87m, Tate (Peters.) – 14.38m, Duffus (K.C.) – 14.07m, Edwards (J.C.) – 13.57m. DECATHLON OPEN Record: Shakiel Chattoo (C.H.S.) – 6,988 pts. (2015) CAMPBELL REIGNS SUPREME 1. L. Campbell (C.H.S)________________________ 2. P. Barnett (Xlcr) ________________________ 3. D. Thames (K.C.) ________________________ 4. W. Fenelon (J.C.) ________________________ 5. K. Shaw (Munro) ________________________ 6. S. Brown (Mus.) ________________________ 7. D. Clayton (Peters.) ________________________ 8. R. Smith (Rhodes) ________________________ FINALISTS Four of last year’s top finishers at Champs return to resume rivalry including Asani Hylton, who copped the bronze medal. He has been missing in action at most of the development meets this year, fuelling speculations about whether he will turn up at Champs. The picture is not clearer with Corvel Wooden. Like Hylton, it is not clear whether he will face the starters, as there was hardly any sighting of him in competition. The event was already robbed of its competitiveness due to the early departure of last year’s winner, Marcus Brown. He gave up his eligibility to compete at Champs in order to start college. It is however not void of quality and this should be on display over the first two days of Champs. Returning residents, Lafranz Campbell and Donovan Thames, are seasoned campaigners, who are expected to joust for the edge in each of the disciplines in the multi-events. HIGH JUMP CLASS III Record: Lamar Reid (C.H.S.) – 1.99m (2015) VICTORY TIPS GIVEN TO MCLEOD 1. S. McLeod (K.C.) ________________________ 2. C. Ottey (C.H.S.) ________________________ 3. K. Thomas (St.J.) ________________________ 4. T. Wheatley (Wol.) ________________________ 5. B. Blaine (K.C.) ________________________ 6. B. Blaine (C.H.S.) ________________________ 7. T. Wheatley (St.J.) ________________________ 8. M. Gordon (Ard.) ________________________ FINALISTS Two of KC’s many victories in this event came back to back in 2000 and 2001. Andre Wellington, a revered sprinter back then, won this event in Class 3 both years and then retired it. Fast track to 2017, Scott McLeod looks to duplicate Wellington’s victory. Interestingly, Wellington is part of the KC’s jumps set up providing assistance to Scott. Standing in the way of McLeod are Corey Ottey and Kymani Thomas. Both athletes’ performances have been on the upswing. They have scaled 1.75m before and must be confident that the Gold Medal is within their grasps. The rest of the field thins out behind these three, 1.70m being the next best height already cleared by Jerome Campbell, Shane York and Byam Blaine. SEASON’S BESTS: Mcleod (K.C.) – 1.80m, Thomas (St.J.) – 1.75m, Ottey (C.H.S.) – 1.75m, York (St.J.) – 1.70m, Campbell (C.H.S.) – 1.70m, Seaton (K.C.) – 1.70m, Blaine (K.C.) – 1.70m, Shaw (J.C.) – 1.65m. 2000M STEEPLE CHASE OPEN Record: Thaleetio Green (St J) 5:53.14 (2016) BUCHANAN EYES RECORD 1. S. Buchanan (K.C.) ________________________ 2. D. Robinson (StETHS)________________________ 3. R. Mundle (Bell.) ________________________ 4. J. Palmer (St.J.) ________________________ 5. S. Onfroy (Holm.) ________________________ 6. D. McDonald (C.H.S.) ________________________ 7. K. Smith (Wol. ________________________ 8. M. McFarlane (Rhodes) ________________________ FINALISTS
Page 3 and 4: PRE VIEW MAGAZINE FROM THE PUBLISHE
Page 5 and 6: David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Memorial Sch
Page 7 and 8: 8:15 am 110M Hurdles Dec. BOYS E.V.
Page 9 and 10: FEATURES ON THE COVER The Preview f
Page 11 and 12: FEATURES has happened to grace the
Page 13 and 14: FEATURES It’s a mild surprise tha
Page 15 and 16: Ristananna Tracey, who set the Cham
Page 17: FEATURES Akeem Bloomfield Stacy-Ann
Page 21 and 22: By: Glenroy Morgan The curtains cam
Page 23 and 24: Michael Stephens Obrien Wasome Sean
Page 25: Adrian Mitchell Christopher Taylor
Page 28 and 29: Rushelle Burton 100M CLASS I Moody
Page 30 and 31: Britany Anderson Janell Fullerton L
Page 32: O’Brien Wasome Nigel Ellis Shanic
Page 35: Nicolee Foster Tyrese Reid Kevin Ne
Page 38 and 39: Lotavia Brown 34 Tissana Hickling P
Page 40 and 41: Chrissani May Cemore Donald They bo
Page 42 and 43: Sahjay Stevens Sanique Walker Stace
Page 44 and 45: Cemore Donald Chrissani May Tia & T
Page 46: Edwin Allen won this event at the P
Page 51 and 52: Jeremy Farr Aryamanya Rodgers & Kim
Page 53 and 54: Antonio Watson Kevin Nedrick POINTS
Page 55 and 56: Kimar Farquharson The Queen’s Gra
Page 57 and 58: 200M CLASS I Record: Usain Bolt (Wm
Page 59 and 60: 1910 Wolmer’s School 1911 Jamaica
Page 64: 1-888-NCB-FIRST | www.jncb.com Live

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