STETHS, Sydney Pagon, Munro shine at Invitational

LAST Saturday's staging of the STETHS Ollivierre Smith Invitational at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) was well supported by high school teams from the western part of the island, with several athletes making their first appearance of the season.

Athletes from Sydney Pagon High, who have been doing well so far this season -- especially in the middle-distance events -- continued their good form. They were led by Alexia Palmer in the girls' Class Two 1500m, winning the event in 5:03.52 ahead of Chevelle Whyte of Alphansus Davis (5:08.86).

Annataseca Blackwood, also of Sydney Pagon, was successful in the girls' Class One 1500m, posting 5:03.75.

Sydney Pagon also won the girls' Class One 400m, with Denae Hodge clocking 57.56 seconds, finishing ahead of the Alphansus Davis duo of Shanieka Lindsay, 57.63, and Ameiah Samuel, 57.81.

Hodge also finished second in a dead heat in the girls' Class One 100m in 12.58 seconds. Shaneca Smith of Manchester High won in the same time.

STRONG PERFORMANCES

Munro College, Cornwall College and STETHS produced strong performances among the males.

Munro swept top spots in classes one and two discus. In Class Two, Brandon Lawrence continued his fine run this season, winning with a throw of 53.45m ahead of Cornwall College's Junior Wright, 47.69m, and Munro's Ashon Haffenden, 45.80m.

Rajeem Streete and Javontae Smith made it a quinella for Munro in the Class One discus, Streete winning with 53.63m and Smith second with 53.10m. Clinton Baker of Edwin Allen took third with 48.79m.

Cornwall College had two wins in the long jump. Zhi-Hew Whitter captured the Class Two title with 6.70m, while Andrew Reid was second with 6.27m.

Damion Daley of Cornwall took the Class One title with 6.41m, defeating the STETHS pair of Ainsworth Ferguson, 6.25m, and Al J. Lewis, 6.22m.

Ferguson returned to capture the triple jump with 14.37m ahead of his teammate Santino Distin, 13.80m.

ON TRACK

On the track, John Mark Campbell of STETHS topped his rivals in the boys' Class One 400m hurdles, winning in 55.42 seconds ahead of teammate Richard Ferrier, second in 56.82. Kelar McLean of Cornwall College won the Class Two event in 59.42 ahead of Darshawn Johnson of STETHS, 59.84.

Kevon Palmer of Manchester High was best in the boys' Class Two 1500m, stopping the clock at 4:37.09, with Luke Plummer of Sydney Pagon second in 4:37.24 and Demar Robinson of Munro third in 4:37.29.

Nicholas Fredrick of Alphansus Davis captured the Class One 1500m in 4:19.76, while Charechon Conolly of Maggotty High was second in 4:20.39 and Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen third in 4:23.44.

Edwin Allen's girls walked away with $100,000 after capturing the Championship 4x400m and 4x800m relays. Despite not fielding their strongest team in both races, Edwin Allen won the 4x400m in 3:56.60, ahead of Mt Alvernia High (4:06.32) and Manchester High (4:06.60). In a match race against STETHS in the 4x800m, Edwin Allen emerged winners in 9:48.56, with STETHS clocking 10:26.82.

Edwin Allen's boys and Munro College each collected $50,000 after capturing the male 4x800m and 4x400m titles, respectively. Munro won the 4x400m in 3:22.48 ahead of STETHS (3:23.12) and Edwin Allen (3:24.33). Edwin Allen clocked 8:15.70 to win the 4x800m, finishing ahead of STETHS (8:16.69) and Munro (8:29.93).