By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
ST. JAMES Prep's Jerome Silvera was the only triple winner at the recent Western Prep School's track and field champs held at the Catherine Hall mini stadium in Montego Bay.
Silvera ended his prep school career unbeaten as he won the Class One 100m, 200m and 400m to emerge the Class One and Overall boys champion at the one-day meet.
However, his efforts were not enough to help his team dethrone Mt. Alvernia Prep as the Sean Rhooms-coached team romped to their eighth straight win with a total of 239 points, well ahead of Montego Bay Prep, who finished with 198, and St. James Prep, who had 187.
Other schools scoring points were Whitehall Prep - 167, Cornwall Prep - 101, Elite Prep - 71, Frome Prep - 67, Unity Prep - 59, Hosanna Prep - 46, St. Mary's Prep - 41, Edwards Prep - 39, Teamwork Prep - 31.
Coach Rhooms was jubilant as he praised his team for its gutsy performance and overall team effort. He explained that Class One athlete Dominic Peterkin performed at half capacity due to injury yet managed to place second in the 100m and anchor his 4x200m team to victory.
Another athlete, Johnny Leiba, fell during the heats, injuring his shoulder and had to go to hospital, only to return later in the day in bandages and demanding and getting his spot in his relay event.
The Class Two boys' events (100m & 150m) were dominated by Marlon Hinds of Montego Bay Prep and Class Three boys' events (50m, 80m) by Rashane Hibbert of Whitehall.
First-time entrants Elite Prep displayed promising talent with their girls' Class One champion Shanell Martin taking the 100m and 150m events and anchoring the 4x200m relay team to victory.
Whitehall's diminutive Kerisha Kerr won the hearts of track fans when she won the Class Two 100m and 150m events and gave Shanell Martin a run for her money in the 4x200m Open relay to place second.
In Class Three girls action, Mt. Alvernia were dominant, taking the top two places in the 50m and 80m events with Shaneika Bingham (eventual Class Three champion) first and Reagan Daley second in both events.
