Hydel captain goes for gold

The Hydel High track and field captain's armband has been worn proudly by Monifa Green, Shian Salmon, Ashanti Moore and Charokee Young, all winners at ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships. Now the honour belongs to 400-metre runner Garriel White, who will wear it into battle seeking her first individual Champs gold medal.

''It's a great feeling. When you put on the armband, you have a different level of confidence,'' she said happily on May 7.

Individually, the 18-year-old's primary mission will be to win the Class One 400 metres. ''My preparation has been going well and I'm really hoping for the best at the championship in my last year,'' said White, who has silver and bronze medals from the one-lap event from Classes Two and Three. White intends to seize the gold this time. ''I think it's long overdue. I'll do what it takes to be on top of the podium, if it's God's will,'' promised the wispy student athlete.

Coming with their A game

Standing in her way are Western Champs winner Aalliyah Francis and old rivals Joanne Reid of St Jago and Daniella Deer of Holmwood Technical. White predicted, ''I think everyone is coming with their A game. I think it's just the best person on the day, and once I hit a personal best and I know it's my best, then I'm okay with my performance.''

Her best is 53.34 seconds, set behind Deer and Janelle Josephs, then of St Andrew High, in the 2018 Class Two final. "Regardless that I came third, that was my personal best 53.34, and I'm looking to erase that time this year,'' she said. White trailed only Deer in the 2019 Class Two medal race.

Two years earlier, she helped Hydel win its first Penn Relays Championships of America title and that crowned a great season. ''It would be 2017, my first Champs individual medal, as the year before I was on the medley team,'' she reflected. "The transition into doing an individual event and medal is a great feeling; and to anchor the 4x4 winning team in a record time was really great at a such a young age.''

The 2018 Carifta under-18 4x400 relay gold medallist credits Hydel head coach Corey Bennett for her development. ''I wasn't one of the best when I came here. I didn't make the team in Class Four and he has worked with me over the years to be the best version of myself, and I really appreciate that, said the 5-foot 4, 116-pound runner.

For now, the Ocho Rios native is relishing the task of leading Hydel at the championships. ''It's all joy. I mean, it's an honour, it's a privilege. To be captain of one of the best schools in track and field, I mean, it's great. There's isn't really a word to explain how I feel," White concluded.