Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Jodian Waldron of Oberlin High wins the Class One 800m in a meet record of 2:25.68, yesterday, the final day of the Eastern Athletics Championships at the National Stadium. Her time bettered the previous mark of 2:26.00, which was held by Andrene Drydale. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Oberlin High successfully defended their Eastern Secondary Schools Sports Association/Jamaica National/ Jamaica Public Service/Juciful Athletics trophy at the end of the two-day event at the National Stadium, yesterday.

Oberlin, with 574 points, won ahead of rivals, Glengoffe (491.50), followed by Morant Bay (435.50), St. Thomas Technical (345), Buff Bay (333) and St. Mary's College (146).

Delighted with victory

Everton Leslie, coach of Oberlin, was delighted with his team's victory.

"I am feeling really good about this victory today," said Leslie. "Despite a few glitches where injuries were concerned, we had to put in a lot of hard work and also teamwork for this win.

"It wasn't that difficult because I always knew from the start that we had a rounded team and when you are rounded the important thing is that you have to make sure that you have finalists in every event and this was what we did," he said.

The coached explained that "We are still in a rebuilding phase and there are still some athletes that we need to give some more exposure to outside of the Eastern Championships and we are planning to do at the Gibson Relays and the Boys and Girls Championships next month."

Records broken

Nine records were broken on the final day of the championships, while Natasha Morrison of Glengoffe was the meet's only triple winner. She won the girl's Class Three 100m in 12.31, the 200m in 25.24 and the 400m in 59.56.

World Youth bronze medal-list Carrie Russell of St. Thomas Technical was a double winner, taking the Class Two sprint double. She clocked 11.89 in the 100m and 25.24 in the 200m.

Roschelle Cross of Glen-goffe won the girl's Class One 200m in 27.17 in front of Rachael Evans of St. Mary (28.46) and Sherine Brown of St. Thomas Technical (28.86).

Daniel Lunan of Oberlin copped the boys' Class One 200m in 23.17, ahead of Nicholas Watson of Annotto Bay (23.58) and Morant Bay's Dean Swimmer (23.72).