Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterThe hype surrounding the 2007 GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships intensified at last Saturday's Gibson Relays with some stellar performances from reigning boys and girls High schools champions Kingston College (KC) and Holmwood Technical.
KC, who it is said will be hard pressed by Calabar to retain their title, won six relays while Holmwood, who are firm favourites to win their fifth straight girls title, took home five.
However, Maximising Velocity Power's (MVP) Sherone Simpson, who ran two super second legs to lead her team to the 4x100m and 4x400 titles, was the individual star of the meet.
MVP won the women's 4x100m in a record 43.28, beating G.C. Foster (43.59), as twop teams dipped below the 44-second barrier for the first time at the meet. MVP also won the 4x400m 3:30.78.
After his team's impressive display, KC's coach Lennox Graham was quick to point out that this is not Champs. He also said his Class Four boys who won two relays, will not be at Champs.
"This is not Champs," he said. "We have to put it in perspective. It was a great performance by Kingston College, as I said before my Class Three and Class Four boys were coming. This was the Class Four Champs, most of them will either have to stop training or don't make the team because we don't have Class Four at Champs.
Happy for them
"I was happy for them (Class Four) they won two races, Class Three were just as impressive," he said.
Graham also hailed the Class One boys 4x100m.
"I am happy, we came out with zero injury and we are very happy," he added. Included in their victories were three of the 13 records that fell on the evening.
KC won the boys' Classes Three and Four 4x100m relays in record times - 43.84 and 46.03 respectively, while the mile-relay quartet of Kerrion Stewart, Oshane Berham, Andre Peart and Rolando Berch surprised Calabar and St. Jago to win in a record 3:09.22, the first time under 3:10 in years. KC also won the boys 4x200m in Classes Three (1:31.99) and Four (1:36.54), along with the 4x800m event in 7:46.01.
Calabar only won one relay, but coach Michael Clarke said they achieved their objectives, despite only winning the Class Two 4x100m in 41.66.
"The primary objective was achieved, which was to end the meet without injuries. The second was to see where we are compared to our competitors.
"Basically we achieved both, so it's now back to the drawing board."
Despite not winning the mile relay, St. Jago's coach Danny Hawthorne, said: "I think they performed excellently. Many people came to see us win the 4x400m, but sometimes in life it goes that way."
Though they did not set a record, Holmwood were easily the best female team.
They won the Class One (44.73) and Four (48.50), along with the 4x400 (3:37.42), 4x800 (9:01.7) and 4x200m (1:37.26) relays.
Anastasia Le-Roy was impressive on the 4x200m and 4x100m, so too was Schillonie Calvert on the 4x100m and 4x400m, and Bobbie-Gaye Wilkins on the 4x400m and 4x800m.
Much improved
Maurice Wilson said his girls improved from their last outing.
"Saturday was a much improved performance compared to Western Relays," he said.
He was a little disappointed with the Class Three girls 4x100m.
"I think we have four of the better Class Three girls, but we just have not get to gel as a team," he added.
However, he said there is still more work to be done before Champs, especially in other areas.
Edwin Allen won the Class Two 4x100m in 45.83, while Manchester took Class Three event in 46.90.
Manning High's Dorrion Bent, who ran a super anchor leg, carried his team to the Class Two 4x200m title in 1:28.57, while Camperdown took the Class One race in 1:25.20.
St. Jago won the Class One event in a record 40.08 seconds.
In the minor events, St. Benedicts won the Under-12 Primary boys 4x60m in 31.89, Quest won the 4x100m Prep Under-12 boys event in 53.30, Vaz took the Under-12 4x60 in 34.60, both meet records.
John Mills took the junior high school girls and boys 4x100m in 52.34 and 46.27 respectively.
Feedback: anthony.foster@ gleanerjm.com
