Five Jamaican high schools touch down in Baltimore for Puma East Coast International Showcase

BALTIMORE, Maryland — Track and field contingents from five Jamaican high schools have touched down in Baltimore ahead of Saturday's fifth running of the Puma East Coast International Showcase at Hughes Memorial Stadium on the campus of Morgan State University. Spearheading the Jamaican charge are Boys' Champs winners Jamaica College (JC) and Girls' Champs runners-up Hydel High.

First gun is set for 10:00 am at the meet, widely considered among the top high school track and field gatherings in the United States. The event was conceived by Jamaican Olympian Sanjay Ayre and will assemble more than 1,200 elite high school competitors drawn from across the United States and the Caribbean for sprints, relays and field disciplines.

Rounding out the Jamaican representation alongside JC and Hydel are Excelsior High, Holland High and St Andrew High School for Girls.

JC travel north riding the wave of their gold-medal-winning run in the High School Boys' 4x100m Championship of America at the 130th Penn Relays in Philadelphia last Saturday. Battling cold conditions, the quartet of Makaelan Woods, Nathaniel Martin, Elijah Smeikle and Kai Kelly stopped the clock at 40.03 seconds, stretching Jamaica's grip on the event to 20 straight titles. Woods, Martin and Kelly are all in the line-up for Baltimore.

The 15-year-old Kelly, who anchored the JC quartet at Penn, will line up in the 100m. The youngster has been on a tear this season, lifting the boys' class two 100m crown at Champs in 10.28 seconds before claiming Under-17 gold at the CARIFTA Games in 10.37. Woods is entered for the 200m, while Martin will tackle both the 100m and the 200m.

The JC squad also features prolific thrower Joseph Salmon, who hurled a national junior and Champs record of 67.55m to defend his boys' class one discus crown, then backed it up with wins at the CARIFTA Games and Penn Relays. Adding further depth are Rojay Black (400m hurdles), Omary Robinson (200m and 400m) and DeAndre Gayle (100m and 200m).

Hydel High will field three of the athletes from their winning High School Girls' 4x400m Championship of America team at Penn Relays. Nastassia Fletcher, Aaliyah Mullings and Sashana Johnson were part of the unit that clocked 3:32.85 — the third-quickest time ever produced at the championships. Fletcher and Mullings are down for the 400m hurdles, with Johnson lining up in the 200m. They will be joined by Zavien Bernard, who lifted the high school girls' triple jump title at Penn Relays, adding to her double gold at Champs and CARIFTA high jump triumph.

Holland High's challenge will be led by Shanoya Douglas, one of the Caribbean's most exciting young sprinters and a triple CARIFTA Games gold medallist. Earlier this month she defended both her 100m and 200m crowns, with her 22.11 seconds run in the 200m a world-leading mark at the time. That clocking wiped out a long-standing CARIFTA record, lifted her to joint third on the world Under-20 all-time list and lowered her own Jamaican Under-20 standard.

Excelsior High's roster is headlined by Jaeden Campbell, whose meet record 50.87 seconds delivered the boys' class two 400m hurdles crown at Champs. He is joined by class one bronze medallist Kishawn Hoffman and Malike Nugent, the anchor leg on the school's 4x100m gold medal-winning team. Coaches have also confirmed entries in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

The Jamaican teams for the Puma East Coast International Showcase are as follows:

Excelsior High: Malike Nugent, Detarje Morgan (100m); James Harrison (200m); Demarco Bennett, Shavon Fenderson, Riquelme Edwards (400m); Gregory McFarlane, Keneil Daniels (800m); Kishawn Hoffman, Jaeden Campbell (400m hurdles); Kh-Anthony Hall (triple jump, long jump).

Holland High: Johan-Ramaldo Smythe (100m/200m/mixed relays), Shanoya Douglas (100/200m/mixed relays), Mickeila Henlon (100m/long jump/mixed relays), Shavoy Thompson (400m/400mh/mixed relays).

Jamaica College: Rojay Black (400m hurdles); Makaelan Woods (200m); Kai Kelly (100m); Joseph Salmon (discus); Omary Robinson (200m/400m); DeAndre Gayle (100m/200m); Nathaniel Martin (100m/200m); Jaidi James (high jump); Denzel Phillips (discus/shot put), Jaden Clement (200/400m).

Hydel High: Nastassia Fletcher (400m hurdles); Aaliyah Mullings (400m hurdles); Sashana Johnson (200m); Zavien Bernard (jumps); Brandane Malcolm (throws); Shaneil Henry (400); Tyecia McDonald (400), Rihanna Morgan (400/800m); Clemoya Roberts (100m hurdles).

St Andrew High School for Girls: Keianna Walker (long jump/200m).