Champs 2024: KC’s Marcinho Rose Achieves Sub-21 Seconds in 200m Semi-Finals

Kingston College’s Marcinho Rose exhibited his prowess in the Boys’ Class One 200m-400m double at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, cementing himself as a leading contender after an effortless victory in the 200m semi-final. On the prior day, the 18-year-old broke the 46-second barrier to win the 400m gold. Continuing his impressive streak, Rose crossed the finish line below the 21-second mark for the first time in the 200m semi-final, beating his previous record set earlier this month.

Achieving a record time of 20.79 seconds with a negative one-metre-per-second wind, Rose’s performance marked the speediest time leading up to Saturday’s final. This significant accomplishment equalled that of leading contender Gary Card’s season record, further reinforcing his standing as a top competitor prior to the final showdown.

Gary Card of Wolmer’s, the victor of the first semi-final, achieved a time of 21.17 seconds with a negative 1.5-metre-per-second wind. This winning speed marked the second-fastest qualifying time, outperforming Rose’s Kingston College teammate, Amal Glasgow.

Glasgow, the 400m silver medallist, accomplished the third-fastest qualifying time with 21.76 seconds, trailed closely by semi-final three winner Omar James of Vere Technical with a time of 21.57 seconds. For the girls’ race, Mickayla Gardener from Wolmer’s took third place in the 100m on Wednesday.

In the Girls’ Class One 200m final, Gardener is leading all qualifiers after winning her semi-final with a remarkable time of 24.02 seconds. Her closest competitors are Alliah Baker of Hydel High, the 100m champion, as well as Brittney McCornack of Bridgeport High and Chevauna Grant of Titchfield, all having recorded a time of 24.49 seconds.