Calabar strong in the distance

The middle distance races are building up to be cracking at the 2019 ISS/GraceKennedy Boy’s and Girls’ Athletics Championships and Calabar High School are looking to lead the way.

The school’s middle distance coach Errol Messias and his boys are speaking tough heading into the Championships.

Messias, who has been in charge of the programme since 1996, is very optimistic that Calabar will deliver big time based on the quality athletes he is working with.

“Our expectations going into Champs is really great as we have a good crop of boys, especially in Class One where we have the likes of Kimar Farquharson, Kevroy Venson,and Rivaldo Marshall, while in Class Two, we have David Martin, who was a winner a few years ago at St Elizabeth Technical High School . While we are not that strong in Class Three, we are getting there and will be where we want them when it matters most,”he stated.

He continued:” I don’t really predict points but all I can say is that we will be maximising well in Class One. “

Messias is looking to Farquharson to lead his charges into battle. The 17 year old had a sub 1:48 split in the 4x800m at the Gibson/McCook Relays last month and his expected to dip below the 1:50. barrier at Championships.

“ Kimar is working towards the Class One 800 metres record and is also seeking to erase the junior record held by Myton and he is in good shape now and I wish him all the best ,” he said.

I am confident

The Class One boys 800m stands at 1:48.84 by Sherwin Burgess from 1987.

Farquharson finished third last year in both the 800 and 1500 metres but is confident in improving his position in both events this time around.” I am confident in winning the 800 metres but the 1500 metres could be a little tough as my teammate Kevroy (Venson) will be hard to beat here but getting quinella is good for the team,”Farquharson said. “At Calabar, we have a strong training group and we push each other in training. When we compete here it is like a competition as every time someone wants to win to have bragging rights for the day.”

Marshall, who was second in Class Two 1500m last year and also second in the 2000m steeplechase, is confident of winning the latter and is aiming for the record of 5:49.46 seconds set by Kingston College’s Aryamanya Rodgers last year .” I am very confident of winning this time around and after running 5:52.5 at the Youngster Goldsmith meet in January, I see no reason why I cannot break that record as my season has been great, “ he said.