Wade tops boys under-20 100m semi-final one at JAAA national championships

Nirohn Wade of Kingston College posted the fastest time in the opening semi-final of the boys under-20 100 metres at the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships on Day 2, stopping the clock at 10.62 seconds to earn an automatic place in the evening final.

Wade edged James Harrison of Excelsior High, who finished in 10.64, with Jamaica College’s Nathaniel Martin third in 10.65. The top three from each semi-final qualify outright, while the two fastest remaining times across both heats will also advance, meaning as many as five athletes from a single semi could reach the final.

Eight sprinters lined up in heat one: Trey Barrett of St. Jago in lane one, Malik Nugent of Excelsior in lane two, Romario Finnegan of Edwin Allen in lane three, Martin in lane four, Harrison in lane five, Dante Watson of Jamaica College in lane six, Wade in lane seven, and Wade’s teammate Kyle Bodden in lane eight. Bodden took bronze in the Class One 200 metres at Champs this year.

Barrett reached the semi in 10.95. Nugent, fifth in the event at Champs with a 10.32 from that meet, advanced in 10.96. Finnegan, who surprised many at Champs with a 10.18 and ranks as the third fastest junior over the distance this season, earned bronze at that meet. Watson won his heat on the previous day in 10.65, while Bodden posted 10.83 to qualify. Wade carries a season mark of 10.22 and finished eighth in the Class One 100 metres final at Champs. Jamaica College, the boys’ Champs winners this year, were strongly represented in the field.

The national under-20 100 metres record stands at 9.99, set in 2023. Finnegan, Nugent, Martin and Wade had all contested the Class One 100 metres final at Champs.

From a clean start across the lanes, Wade came through on the outside late in the race. A photo finish confirmed he had held off Harrison, with Martin securing third for Jamaica College. Dante Watson finished in 10.70 and Bodden in 10.77, both provisional bubble times pending the second semi-final. Finnegan faded to sixth in 10.81. The second semi-final was set to follow on the track.