C’down’s throwing twins hunt more glory

The last track and field season was a good one for Camperdown High's 18-year-old twin sisters Britannia and Britannie Johnson, who are both seeking more and better success in the throwing events for the upcoming season.

The east Kingston-based institution is known for top performances in sprinting and has produced Olympians Donald Quarrie, Raymond Stewart and Andrea Lloyd, as well as Boys and Girls' Championships (Champs) standouts Revoli Campbell and twin sisters Maxine and Marlene Dawkins.

The Johnson sisters, however, have helped to put the school on the map in throwing events with success at various local track and field meets, with both also participating at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, United States of America (USA) and Britannia going to the World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Both had positive expectations for the upcoming season while they cheered Camperdown at a recent Manning Cup match.

"I am definitely looking forward to this season as I really want to leave school on a high, as I want personal best in both events and I am hoping to break the Champs record in the shot put, which is my better event.

"Although a bit disappointed by my performance in Cali, where I just missed out on a final spot, that has really helped to motivate me for the upcoming season and I am very confident that I will do much better than last season," Britannia stated.

Britannie added: "I want medals at Champs in both events, along with personal best, and definitely I am looking forward to making the national team in the discus, as this is my best event."

Both have had success in the shot put and discus events. Britannie finished third at Champs in Class One discus with 46.54 metres while she ended fourth in the event at Penn Relays with a mark of 41.75 metres.

It was a bit better for Britannia, as she won the Class One shot put at Champs with a heave of 14.06 metres, was fourth at Penn Relays with 13.98 metres, second at Carifta Games in Jamaica with 14 19 metres and 13th at the World Under-20 Championships with 14.44 metres.

According to the sisters, competing against each other has been a motivational factor.

"When we train together, it is like a competition as we want to outdo each other and this has really helped us both, as it is bragging rights for the one who does best in training when we go home," said Britannie.

Coach Wayne Stewart, who has guided them for the past four years, praised both.

"Both young ladies are disciplined and dedicated athletes and have shone brightly over the years, especially the past season, and I expect greater stuff from them this upcoming season," Stewart said.

"They could have left school this year to go on scholarship overseas but made the sacrifice to compete for their school one more year at Champs, as they want to leave with better results.

"They are very hard workers and really helped to motivate the other members on the track and field team," said Stewart, who was a member of Jamaica's coaching team at this year's Carifta Games.