15-YEAR OLD Jamaican boy runs 10.42!! for 100m at trials

FIFTEEN-year-old Jazeel Murphy of Bridgeport High School produced a lifetime best 10.42 seconds (+1.1 wind m/s) to win the U-17 Boys 100 metres to steal the spotlight on yesterday's first day of the Carifta Trials at the Stadium East Field. Murphy, who had a less than impressive start, recovered by the 40-mark to beat main rivals Odean Skeen of Wolmer's Boys' and Adam Cummings of Munro, who were both credited with 10.75 for joint second place. Fifteen-year-old Jazeel Murphy of Bridgeport High School (left) beats his chest in celebration while posting a lifetime best 10.42 seconds to win the Under-17 Boys 100 metres at yesterday's Carifta Trials at the Stadium East in Kingston. Munro's Adam Cummings (centre), who defeated Murphy in Class 3 at Boys' Champs last year, was joint second with Odean Skeen of Wolmer's in 10.75 seconds. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) Murphy's 10.42 is 0.34 seconds faster than last year's winning time of 10.76 at the Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis. Bridgeport coach Carl Page, who revealed Murphy was over a knee problem from last season, told the Observer he was impressed with his performance. "He's been sprinting fine all season and we knew he was going to run well, but he surprised me with this 10.4 this early, so I'm expecting great things from him at (Boys' and Girls') Champs...," a delighted Page said. But while Murphy was on cloud nine, it was despair for reigning World Youth and Junior 100m gold medallist Dexter Lee of Herbert Morrison. Lee, who was the firm favourite for the U-20 Boys 100 crown, failed to advance to the final after placing second in 10.75 in heat two of six. Only the winners and two fastest losers are guaranteed a place in the final. Kemar Bailey-Cole of Old Harbour High won in 10.53 ahead of the St George's College pair of Darrion Mitchell (10.62) and Khorey Spalding (10.63). Carrie Russell, the 2006 World Junior bronze medallist who now attends The Queen's School, won the U-20 Girls equivalent in 11.50secs, while Deandre Whitemore of Vere took the U-17 event in 11.71. Other top performances came from Manchester High's Shay-Ann Holness and Holmwood Technical's Janieve Russell in the U-17 Girls high jump and 300m hurdles. Holness clocked 41.15secs in the semi-finals - a time which is better than the 11-year-old Carifa record of 41.33 set by Vere's Patricia Hall in 1998. Holness was second in the final in 44.55 behind Sashel Brown of Alpha, 44.20. The in-form 15-year-old Russell cleared a PR 1.80m to win the U-17 Girls high jump ahead of STETHS' Peta-Gaye Reid, 1.75m. The Carifta U-17 mark is 1.80m held by Jamaica's Sheree Francis in 1999. There were also impressive wins for Kingston College's Donohue Williams (1:51.94) and JC's Waquar DaCosta (1:54.33) in the U-20 and U-17 Boys 800m.

MY TAKE ON IT: Jamaica keeps producing top-notch sprinter, could this be the next Usain Bolt? doubtful and out of the question... but still this young man may have a bright future regardless.