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Milo Western Relays delivers at GC Foster

Published:Monday | February 10, 2020 | 12:11 AMHubert Lawrence/Gleaner Writer
Holmwood Technical High School’s Danielle Brissett (left) charges to victory while being chased by Edwin Allen High School’s Jody Ann Dixon (right) in the Women’s 400m Hurdles Open event during the Milo Western Relays at the GC Foster College in St Catherine on Saturday.
Kenyon Hemans
Holmwood Technical High School’s Danielle Brissett (left) charges to victory while being chased by Edwin Allen High School’s Jody Ann Dixon (right) in the Women’s 400m Hurdles Open event during the Milo Western Relays at the GC Foster College in St Catherine on Saturday.

After super-sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce got the 42nd Milo Western Relays going with a season-opening 60m win, two-time World Championship 400m finalist Demish Gaye, Edwin Allen Comprehensive High School and Kingston College (KC) entertained fans at the GC Foster College on Saturday. However, top billing went to long jumper Shawn-D Thompson, who came within touching distance of the Olympic qualifying standard.

Weeks after his 23rd birthday, the reigning Intercollegiate champion added 3cm to his personal best of 8.13m in round five, and with all present tuned into his event, he went further to 8.20m on his last jump.

Coached by Marlon Gayle, Thompson is now the fifth-best Jamaican long jumper of all time.

FEELING GRATEFUL

He wasn’t disappointed to have missed the Olympic standard by just 2cm.

“To be honest, didn’t expect it, but I’m actually grateful for it,” the GC Foster College student athlete said with reference to the heavy training he is doing at the moment. “Hopefully, I push forward to the Olympic Games and the Senior Trials.”

Stepping high, Demish Gaye closed a record men’s 4x100m for Sprintec Lions in 38.56 seconds. Asked about his Olympic preparations, he simply said: “I’m feeling great. It’s going good so far.” He later cruised home on the winning Lions 4x400m relay.

Experienced Anastasia Le-Roy helped Sprintec Track Club to win in both the 4x100m and 4x400m. In the shorter event, Shashalee Forbes and Natasha Morrison made up ground with a brilliant last change.

“I wasn’t worried,” Morrison said. “I’m used to Shashalee in many 4x100m, so I know as long as she gets the baton round safe to me, we will be fine.”

Le-Roy produced the fastest 4x400m relay leg at 52.4 seconds.

The day’s best race was one of 10 wins by Edwin Allen. The 4x800m team, coached by Michael Dyke, got a 2:09.00 second leg from Kayann Green and rebuffed a stubborn quartet from Alphansus Davis High School – 8:54.10 to 8:55.92 minutes.

The school’s other relay wins came in the Class One 4x100m in 44.80 seconds with Kevona Davis on the backstretch; in Class Two in 44.66s with Tia Clayton on anchor; in Class Four in 48.35s; and in the 4x200m with a record 1:34.02 minutes thanks to Serena Cole, Saleci Myles, Tina Clayton, and Selisa Palmer.

KC won the 4x100m in Classes One, Two, and Three with a record 43.75s in the latter, in a solo run in the 4x800m, and near the end of the day in the 4x400m. That was a lively contest over Excelsior High, who completed in 3:10.79 minutes.

The girls’ 4x400m was fast, with 2019 Penn Relay champions Holmwood Technical leading Edwin Allen and Alphansus Davis under 3:40.00 minutes. Danielle Brissett, Daniela Deer, Rickian Russell, and Kavia Francis zoomed to a meet record 3:36.47 minutes, with Edwin Allen and Alphansus Davis at 3:38.74 and 3:39.62, respectively.