Historic top-five Champs finish for Rusea’s girls

Rusea’s High School, an institution more popularly known for its exploits in schoolboy football, made its presence felt on the track and field scene with a historic top-five finish in the girls’ section at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last Saturday.

The Hanover school tallied 84 points in the girls’ section, to place fifth, while the boys placed 10th with a total of 35 points.

Rodrick Myles, head coach of the Rusea’s track and field team, described the top-five finish as important to the programme that they are building in the west.

“It (finishing in the top five) is important as it was in the plan. This is a set of girls that went to Rusea’s from seventh grade and developed with the programme. You saw Shamella (Donaldson)... . I think the girls were ready and actually pushed for it,” Myles said.

Myles admitted that it will be tough to maintain a top-five finish but said that as long as they adapt to the changes that must be made to their programme, they can do so as they have the talent.

“I think that the team is there, but sometimes, while a team may grow, other things, like administration, might not. However, I have a principal who has an understanding and knows that top five at Champs is a very difficult thing to maintain,” Myles said. “I have the team, but there will have to be some changes. One of the major things is that it’s only two coaches. I have to be coaching both boys and girls and writing the programmes, so we will need more coaches.”

CONTINUING LEGACY

Myles believes that the throwing events, which were his strong area at Champs, will continue to do well, even with the departure of Class One discus champion Shamella Donaldson, as they have set a legacy to continue.

“I think the throws were instrumental in our top-five finish. I think I have the best throws team in Jamaica. Yes, Shamella is leaving, but I have Alisha [Shaw], who threw 46 metres to finish fourth. I have Cheyenne Feron, who won the discus last year and was second at the CARIFTA Games last year but was held back by injuries this year. With the Shaw sisters remaining, I will have the throws next year also,” Myles said. “These girls understand what it means to work hard. The legacy of the throws will continue to push them to work hard.”