By Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
Gonzales
MANHATTAN, New York:
HOLMWOOD TECHNICAL'S Jermaine Myers and Edwin Allen's Kayann Thompson, struck gold in the 800m on yesterday's final day of the National Scholastic Track and Field Championships at the Armory Track in Manhattan, New York.
Following Shaunette Davidson's gold in the high jump on Friday's opening day the Jamaicans, competing indoors for the first time, ended the meet with three gold, three bronze and one silver for an overall seven medals.
Cheered on by a large contingent of Jamaicans in New York, including Consular General Basil Bryan and City Town Hall Clerk Una Clarke, Myers ran sprinted clear of his rivals to win in 1:53.08.
Thompson, 18, was even more impressive. Like Myers she went in front early and despite being overtaken with 200 metres to go she kept her cool to win easily in the end in an impressive 2:07.62.
One of the highlights yesterday was the clash between World Junior Championships 400m bronze medallist, Jermaine Gonzales and American Reginald Witherspoon, the fastest in the States this year over 200 and 400 metres.
Witherspoon went out very fast in the 400m but had to call on all his reserves to hold off Gonzales. Witherspoon broke the National High School record of 46.84 seconds set by William Reid of Philadelphia in 1986 with an astonishing new mark of 46.11. Gonzales was also inside the new mark as his second place time was 46.15.
Witherspoon took the double as he won the 200m in 21.14, the fastest time this year in the United States at this level. Camperdown's Orion Nicely finished third in 21.81.
It took the photo finish camera to decide the placing among the top three in the girls 60m. St. Jago's Kerron Stewart flew in the last 20 metres to finish third in 7.39 behind gold medalist Janice Davis (unattached) 7.37 and Shalanda Solomaon of Speed City, California, 7.38. Jamaica's other medal yesterday came in
the 200m where Herbert Morrison's Nickeisha Anderson finished third in 24.14. Shauna Cox took gold in 23.58.
Other competitors for Jamaica on yesterday's final day were Camille Robinson, fourth in the 400m in 55.51 and eighth in the 60m hurdles in 9.56; Shaunette Davidson, seventh in the 60m hurdles in 8.87 and Winston Hutton, sixth in the 60m in 6.90.
The team which returns home today earned high praises from the organisers and supporters for their achievement as this was the first time a Jamaican junior team was competing indoors.
Last Thursday, the team paid a visit to the Consular General's Office in Manhattan and they were also guests on the Chris Rock-hosted BET show.
Yesterday the athletes were honoured at the track by Town Clerk Una Hall who presented them with the Keys to the City of New York.
