Tracey fires 800m warning shot

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

After last year's disappointment where they were favoured to stop Holmwood Technical winning streak at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championship but fell short on the final day, the Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen team is determined to make amends this year and one athlete who is expected to play a very important role in that process this season is national junior representative, Ristananna Tracey.

Last Saturday at the inaugural staging of the Ben Francis Invitational Meet at Vere Technical, Tracey produced the most out-standing performance on the day as she stopped the clock at 2:09.46 to win the Girls Class 1 800 metres in her first run this season over the two-lap event. The 18-year-old Tracey, who was second at 'Champs' in the event last year behind the outstanding Natoya Goule, the former Manchester High school athlete was very excited about her opening performance in the event and is determined to play a very important role in her team's bid to dethrone Holmwood Technical this time around.

Best ever start

"This is my best ever start in the event and I am feeling great and I want to do extremely well in my final season for my school as I think I have a key role to play, and as long as I remain healthy, I will give my team maximum points in my three events," she said. As vice-captain of the team, my role is very important in us winning Champs this year and at the moment the vibes in the camp is very great and the confidence level among the girls has been very awesome, and we want to maintain that throughout the season."

According to Tracey, she is being motivated by her sister Nikita, who is now on track scholarship at Oklahoma Baptist University in the United States after completing her studies at Edwin Allen last year.

"My sister calls me very often and has been motivating me to do well as she really wants us to win the Championships this year, and I am hoping that I can lead from the front with my performances," continued the younger Tracey, who, was also second to her sister in the Open 400 metre-hurdles event at Champs.

Only one athlete so far this season has gone faster than Tracey in the event as national senior representative Kaliese Spencer raced to a 2:08.77 victory at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational Meet last month. What has made Tracey's performance even more staggering is the fact that she did it while competing on grass.

Coach Dyke thinks the performance by Tracey on Saturday was something very special.

"I have never had an athlete opening up so fast in this event and to see that she is competing in the event for the first time this season is even more astounding," said Dyke, who has coached many top junior athletes over the event.

"Not even Kayon Thomas had looked so dangerous this time of the year," concluded Dyke.

Thomas, who competed for Louisiana State University for the past two seasons, has been the most outstanding half-miler to have come out of the Edwin Allen female programme.