Edwin, Jago still best in Central

Edwin Allen High School girls and St Jago High School boys continue to prove that they are the best high school teams from the central region in track and field as both institutions dominated the two-day Central Athletics Championships which ended at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport yesterday after both teams garnered more than 400 points.

Edwin Allen, who won the title for the 11th time in succession, ended the meet with 414 points as closest rivals St Jago finished second on 342.5 points and they were followed by Hydel, 340, Holmwood Technical, 182.5, and Vere Technical, 163, closing out the top five.

The boys from Monk Street in Spanish Town doubled their nearest rival as they ended the meet on 414 points as Edwin Allen was second on 207, with Clarendon College, 146, Vere Technical, 99, and St Catherine High,72, closing out the top five.

Head Coach of Edwin Allen High, Michael Dyke, who had expressed some concerns with his team's rustiness due to lack of activity going into the meet, was very delighted with his team's success once again." It was a nice feeling to defend our title despite the adverse conditions and difficult situation we have been going through, but, despite all of this, it was a good feeling for the girls to rise to the occasion and they did a good job scoring over 400 points."

However, Dyke is not taking things for granted going into the ISSA/GraceKenedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships. ''We know it will not be easy and we will have to work much harder but the girls will be encouraged by their performances and this will surely motivate them to work even harder going forward,"he stated.

Edwin Allen showed strength in all areas as they looked good on the track and in the field. Yesterday saw their outstanding sprinter Tina Clayton leading from front after capturing the Class Two 200 metres 23.67 seconds to upstage Hydel's Kerrica Hill second in 23.98 seconds.

Two other athletes from Edwin Allen, Rhiana Gayle and Rushana Dwyer, had double wins at the meet as both picked up wins in the 800 metres to add to their 1500 metres titles on the opening day. Gayle clocked finished ahead ofto win the Class Three two-lap event, ahead of JodyAnn Mitchell of Holmwood . Dwyer took home the Class One 800m in 2:12.06.

Not to be outdone, both St Jago and Hydel athletes had good results at the meet. Thenelle Williams of St Jago topped the field in the Girls' Class one 200 metres after winning in 23.97 seconds as her teammate Joanne Reid was second in 23.98 seconds.

Showed their strength

Hydel once again showed their strength in the hurdles events , picking up two wins. It was a quinella for them in Class Two 100m hurdles as Kerrica Hill 13.62 seconds won from Shania Myers second in 13.78 seconds, while in the Class One event, it was Oneka Wilson who won in 13.52 seconds. The team from Ferry also closed the day with a win after capturing the Open 4x400m relay in 3:43.14 seconds getting the better of St Jago, 3:46.14 seconds, and Edwin Allen, third in 3:47.16 seconds.

It was a one-horse race all the way as St Jago boys led from start to finish for their mammoth win to keep their 100 per cent record of winning the overall title at these championships. Alex Taylor picked up their first win of the day as he captured the Class Two Boys 800 metres in 1:57.92 seconds, getting the better of Franklyn Taylor of Foga Road, 1:58.44 seconds, with third going to Daniel Barton of Vere Technical in 2:04.82 seconds.

Clarendon College had a quinella in the Class Three 800 metres as Obinna Reid won in 2:09.55 , ahead of teammate Rushanna James, second in 2:11.49 seconds. In what is building up to be one of the top events at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, the Class One 800 metres saw both Chevonne Hall, 1:51.73 seconds, of Edwin Allen and Tyrice Taylor, 1:51.91 seconds, of Vere were involved in a titanic clash as Hall surprised the 400 metres champion for the win.

St Jago ruled supreme in both triple jump finals held yesterday. Jevaughn Samuels 13.67m won the Class Two event , ahead of Edwin Allen High's Zico Bennett,13.06m, while in Class One Chad Gordon won the event 13.55m.