St Andrew High’s Williams retains high jump title at Penns

Shanniqua Williams of St Andrew High retained her Penn Relays girls high school high jump title on Friday’s second day of the 129th staging of the event at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

She produced a lifetime best 1.82m to beat top-ranked Daniel Noble of Wolmer’s Girls for the first time this year.

Williams had won the event last year, as a member of the Wolmer’s team, but lost a series of championship finals to Noble, including last weekend’s Carifta Under-20 girls decider.

She is now tied for third best ever at the Penn Relays with Kimberly Williamson and Janique Burgher, both multiple-time winners from Edwin Allen High.

Williams cleared her last two heights on the third attempt before failing at what would have been a new championship record 1.85m.

Noble was second with 1.77m while Egypt Bolan of Lindenwood, New Jersey was third with 1.75m.

Amelia Montaque of Vere Technical cleared 1.65m, while Carifta Under-17 champion Sackoya Palmer of St Mary High cleared 1.60m, the same height as Vere Technical’s Kijonna Lee.

-Paul A Reid