JAAA CARIFTA TRIALS: Calabar's 15-y-o phenom Christopher Taylor clocks Age-Group World Record 45.69 secs over 400m

 BY SHERDON COWAN Observer staff reporter  Monday, March 09, 2015    

The final day of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) National Carifta Trials was highlighted yesterday by some super fast performances, chief among them a stupendous 45.69-second clocking by Calabar's Christopher Taylor in the boys' Under-18 400-metre event at the National Stadium.

Chris Taylor of Calabar

Running out of lane seven, the impressive Taylor blew away the field and sent the moderate crowd into a frenzy with the sub-46-second clocking. The 15-year-old's dazzling performance also saw him achieving the Age-Group World Record, pulling down Grenadian Kirani James' previous record of 45.70 seconds.

"I am really comfortable and elated about my performance today (yesterday). My coach just gave me the instruction to come out here and qualify for the Carifta Games, so I am really surprised with the time...to get 45, wow," an amazed Taylor told the Jamaica Observer.

With the Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships a few weeks away, Taylor added that fans can expect some faster times, but quickly pointed out that he does not intend to push himself too hard.

Falls

Taylor won ahead of Devaughn Ellington (47.34sec) of Petersfield High and Leonardo Ledgister (48.20sec) of St Elizabeth Technical.

Junelle Bromfield of St Elizabeth Technical High School ran away with the girls' equivalent in 53.30 seconds, ahead of Sanique Walker (54.53sec) and Satanya Wright (55.24sec) also of St Elizabeth Technical.

Kingston College's Akeem Bloomfield then followed suit in the boys' Under-20 event, clocking a superb 45.41 seconds to win ahead of Terry Thomas (47.05sec) of Greater Portmore and Robin Black (47.18sec) of St Elizabeth Technical. more