Western schools turn out for STETHS meet

LAST Saturday’s staging of the STETHS-Olliviere-Smith Invitational meet, held 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 appearances 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 at the meet. They were led by Alexia Palmer in the Girls’ Class 2 1500m, winning the event in 5:03.52 ahead of Chevelle Whyte of Alphansus Davis, who finished second in 5:08.86.

Annataseca Blackwood, also of Sydney Pagon, was successful in the Girls’ Class 1 1500m, posting a winning time of 5:03.75.

Sydney Pagon also won the Girls’ Class 1 400m, with Denae Hodge clocking 57.56 seconds, to end ahead of the Alphansus Davis duo of Shanieka Lindsay, second in 57.63, and Ameiah Samuel, third in 57.81. Hodge also finished second in the Girls’ Class 1 100m in 12.58 seconds, behind Shaneca Smith of Manchester High, who won in the same time.

Strong performances

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

Munro swept the top spots in the Classes 1 and 2 shot put. In Class 2, Brandon Lawrence continued his fine run this season, winning with a throw of 16.90 metres, ahead of teammate Ashon Haffenden, second with 14.32, and STETHS Davere Buchanan, third with 12.53m.

Javontae Smith and teammate Brandon Lawrence made it a quinella for Munro in Class 1, with Smith throwing the shot put out to 17.70. Lawrence was second with 14.70. Clinton Baker of Edwin Allen took third with 14.13m.

Cornwall College had two wins in the long jump. Zhi-Hew Whitter captured the Class 2 title with 6.70m, ahead of teammate Andrew Reid, second with 6.27m.

Damion Daley took Class 1 for Cornwall with 6.41m, ahead of the St Elizabeth Technical pair of Ainsworth Ferguson, second with 6.25m, and Al’J Lewis, third with 6.22m. Ferguson later returned to capture the triple jump with 14.37m, ahead of Steths’ Santino Distin, second with 13.80m.

On the track, John Mark Campbell of STETHS topped his rivals in the Boys’ Class 1 400m hurdles, winning in 55.42 seconds, ahead of teammate Richard Ferrier, second in 56.82. Kelar McLean of Cornwall College won the Class 2 event in 59.42 seconds, ahead of Darshawn Johnson of STETHS, second in 59.84.

Kevon Paimer of Manchester High was best in the Boys’ Class 2 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 1 title in 4:19.76, while Charehon Conally of Maggotty was second in 4:20.39 and Joel Morgan of Edwin Allen third in 4:23.44.

Edwin Allen High School girls walked away with $100,000 after capturing the Championship 4x400m and 4x800m relays. Despite not fielding their strongest teams 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. STETHS clocked 10:26.82.

Edwin Allen 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, ahead of STETHS (8:16.69) and Munro (8:29.93).