Young, Lee looking to repeat impact

Cherokee Young and Ray-donna Lee amassed 16 points each for Hydel at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships last year, and they will have to repeat those performances if their school is to challenge Edwin Allen High and the other contenders for the title this year.

Young, who took on the most daunting double in athletics, wants to go one better than her first and second-place finishes in the 800m and 400m, respectively, last year. But the 18-year-old is only focused on running faster in both events.

“My objective for the season is to run personal bests in my events and contribute to my team,” Young told STAR Sports during a recent training session.

Young captured the half-mile title in 2:07.10 last year and has run as fast as 2:08.38 so far this season, with that time coming at the Camperdown Classics. In her only 400m for the year, she cruised to 55.17 on the grass at the St Elizabeth Technical High School Invitational.

Meanwhile, Lee, who broke the Class Two 100m hurdles record in 12.95 seconds, has been nursing an injury, but she remains confident that she will be able to recover in time to assist her school’s push for its first hold of the girls’ title.

The youngster said she is highly motivated to push herself, particularly because she will be stepping up in class and competing against older girls.

“My success last year has motivated me to train harder, even though I am stepping up in class,” Lee said. “The injury has really impeded my training, but I know I will be running at Champs. My aim is to run my personal best in the 100m, but there is not much control over that now because of the injury, but I know I will do well.”

– A.K.