Video credit: Youtube username: Official Football Highlights
They may be a world away, but the Jamaican National Championships are relevant to American track and field fans as the Penn Relays Carnival in April and the World Youth Championships this summer approach.
One Jamaican who established himself as a name to watch this weekend is Akeem Bloomfield of Kingston College, who set the national junior record in the 400m with a huge 44.93 effort. The time smashed the previous record of 45.21, set by Davian Clarke 20 years ago. Bloomfield is the first Jamaican prep to break 45 seconds for the quarter mile.
Earning runner-up honors was Nathon Allen in 45.30, just ahead of teammate Martin Manley in 46.41. The St. Jago High teammates look dangerous as they prepare to defend their Penn Relays Championship of America High School Boys 4x400m Relay title. The squad clocked 3:11.73 at the event last year.
Calabar High School broke the 4x100m Meet Record with a 39.08 mark. That time eclipses the American National High School Record of 39.76 (Wyatt, TX, 1998) and comes close to the Jamaican National Junior Record of 38.97 (2012).