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St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) head coach Marvin James is now over the moon after his star hurdler, Habiba Harris, upset favourite Alexis James of Petersfield High in the Under-20 girls' 100 metres hurdles final at last weekend's Carifta Trials.

Harris, a Class Two athlete, shocked James to win the event in a personal best and World Under-20 leading time of 13.35 seconds. James, a Class One athlete and the World Under-20 silver medallist in the event, clocked 13.38 for second.

While Harris' win was a major shock for local track and field fans, it was not so for James.

"Coming to the Trials she had some fears going into the Under-20 race especially going up against James," the St Elizabeth coach said. "The plan was for her to finish second but in the warm-up area she was looking super impressive going over the hurdles and the rest is now history."

With Class Two girls competing over a lower height, James stated that he made the necessary adjustments for his charge in the week leading up to the Trials over the Class One hurdles.

"We sat down and mapped out the best route to make the national team and I used the week in training prior to the Trials fine tuning her preparation over the new height," added James.

Harris, who finished fourth in the event in 13.41 at last year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs), behind record holder Kerrica Hill of Hydel High, is ranked number five in the Class Two event with a best of 13.52 in winning at the Western Championships. Holmwood Technical's Kiara Meikle is the event leader following her 13.16 seconds winning time at the Central Athletics Championships.

A confident James said Harris can win the event at Champs.

"The plan is definitely for her to win the event at Champs as she has gotten much faster this season," he stated.

Harris is ranked number two in the 200 metres with a season 's best 23.94 seconds just behind Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia High the top seed with 23.43.