#Champs2026: Historic Class 1 boys 400m looms

Jamaica College’s Makaelan Woods competing in the Class 1 boys 400m semi finals at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

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March 25, 2026

#Champs2026: Historic Class 1 boys 400m looms

KINGSTON, Jamaica — There are signs that Thursday’s final of the Class 1 boys 400m could be historic after seven athletes dipped under 47.00 seconds in Wednesday’s semifinals at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

Title chasing Jamaica College will have two athletes in the final as well as William Knibb Memorial.

Jamaica College’s Makaelan Woods was the fastest qualifier with 46.39 seconds, ahead of William Knibb’s Jabari Matheson-46.54 seconds, Paul Henry of Foga Road- 46.72 seconds and Junior Galimore of Hydel high- 46.76 seconds in the top four.

Kingston College’s Jabulani McLeod-46.80 seconds, Titchfield High’ Nishawn Walker-46.88 seconds and Omary Robinson of Jamaica College were also under 47.00 seconds while William Knibb’s Joshua Wint ran 47.22 seconds.

DiWayne Sharpe of Jamaica College leads the Class 2 qualifiers after he won his race with 46.97 seconds, followed by Excelsior High’s Jaeden Campbell- 47.13 seconds, Jason Pitter of Kingston College-47.24 and Lacovia High’s Nicholas Jones- 48.22 seconds.

A second Jamaica College runner, Oneil Lawrence also advanced with 48.44 seconds as well as Rusea’s High’s Tiene Barrett- 48.59 seconds.

Jamaica College are well served in Class 3 with Jayden White leading the qualifying with 50.62 seconds and teammate Tariq Creary who ran 51.43 seconds.

Kingston College also has two- Taariq Gordon-51.30 seconds and Maleeq Fellows-51.58 seconds while Darrian Francis of Lacovia High and Olando Headley of St Elizabeth Technical High School and Rhomarni Bennett of Wolmer’s Boys are also through.

— Paul A Reid