Edwin Allen, St Jago retain titles

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Edwin Allen and St Jago High scored runaway victories to retain their titles on yesterday's final day of the Milo-sponsored Central Championships at G.C. Foster College.

At press time last night, after 34 finals, Edwin Allen were on top among the girls with 332 points. Rounding out the top five were Holmwood Technical on 291, Vere Technical 230, St Jago 225 and Manchester High 108.

In the boys category, St Jago led after 28 finals with 186 points. Following them were Holmwood 124, Edwin Allen 86.5, and Manchester High 85.

Winning Edwin Allen coach, Michael Dyke, was very pleased with his team's triumph.

"I am very pleased with our overall performance, especially in the throws as we have showed significant improvements in this area, and this will be a critical area for us in our bid to win the Championships (Boys and Girls') next month," said Dyke.

Edwin Allen set three records with national junior representatives Kimberly Williamson and Ristananna Tracey leading the way.

Williamson produced a national junior record in the Class Two high jump as she bettered Peaches Roach's 1.87 metres with a new mark of 1.88m. Manchester's Chanice Porter, the long jump winner, finished second with 1.82m.

"I am very happy to have come out and broken the national junior record as I didn't come for a record. But to do so is great as at the same time I wanted to send a strong message to my competitors going to Champs," said Williamson.

The lanky Tracey destroyed the field in the Class One 800 metres, as she went out very fast at the start and built a healthy lead to smash former Manchester athlete Natoya Goule's one-year mark of 2:12.01 with an outstanding 2:06.60.

elated on opening day

Tracy, who was winning her second event of the meet, following her 400m hurdles victory on the opening day, was elated.

"I was motivated by my performance on grass in the event last week at the Ben Francis Meet, and I told myself that if I ran so well on grass I can do much better on chevron, and that's why I went out so fast as that early momentum helped me," said Tracey.

Edwin Allen's Tara Sue Barnett smashed the Class Two discus mark of 41.49m by Salcia Slack in 2007, with a new mark of 46.05m. St Jago's Kelliom Knibb (42.47) was second, while Manchester's Sheena Powell finishing third with 39.41m.

Marston made it a clean sweep for Edwin Allen in the throws, as she won the Class One discus with a throw of 47.73 metres.

Vere Technical's Shericka Jackson captured her second gold medal, digging deep in the Class Two 200m to catch 100m champion Christiana Williams on the line, to win in 24.03. Williams timed 24.09.

St Jago's boys captured all but one of the relays, their only loss coming in Class One where Dinthill Technical pulled off an upset win.

One of the closest finishes came in the Class Two 200 metres, where Tevin Dixon (22.20) pipped Bog Walk High's Jevaughn Minzie (22.21).

Edwin Allen Blake Thompson won the Class Three event in 23.17 seconds, ahead of St Jago's Raheem Chambers in 23.42 seconds.