Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Calabar's Ramone McKenzie cruises to victory in the Class Two 200m. McKenzie set records in the 400m and 200m on the final day of Champs at the National Stadium, yesterday.- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
CALABAR DETHRONED Kingston College (KC) while Holmwood Technical recorded their fifth straight girls' title as the curtain came down on the 2007 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last night.
Calabar held an unassailable lead, 231.5 points to Kingston College (184.5), going into the final eventsto secure their first title in 10 years.
Jamaica College (133), Wolmer's (113.5) and St. Jago (89) complete the top five after 31 events with only another eight events outstanding.
On the girls' side, Holmwood were far in front with 318.5 points, 105 ahead of Manchester High (213.5), Vere (197), Edwin Allen (189.5) and St. Jago (140.5), this after 40 of 44 events.
Schillonie Calvert, captain of girls' Champs winners Holmwood, said she was very happy to win a fifth straight title.
"I feel very proud to know that I came out and did my best, especially knowing that my team is going to take it home for the fifth time," Calvert said.
"And to be the third school for girls to win five straight ... I feel very proud and I know my coach (Maurice Wilson) feels the same," she said.
record breaking
The day's events were highlighted by KC's Keiron Stewart, who ran 13.53 to break the national junior record of 13.69, which he set in the preliminary round of the 110m hurdles.
Yohan Blake of St. Jago, Ramone McKenzie of Calabar, Immaculate's Danielle Jeffery, Shana-Gaye Tracey of Manchester, Bobby-Gaye Wilkins of Holmwood, Waqar DaCosta of JC and Herbert Morrison's Antonique Campbell completed double victories on yesterday's final day.
Blake won the 200m yesterday in 20.62 to add to his 100m record run of 10.21. He was pleased with his performance. "It was so hard, because I did not get any push, if I had gotten push I would have run faster," he said.
In Class Two, McKenzie won the 200m in 20.89 and the 400m in 47.24 - both record times.
After the 200m, he said: "I gave it my all.
"It feels good because those (records) were my aim for the Championships," he said.
Jeffery won the Class Two 200m in 23.65, adding to her 100m (11.64), while Campbell took the Class Three girls' 200m in 24.14 and the 100m (11.89).
Jeffery was very pleased with her achievements. "I am happy to give my school points," she said.
In the senior girls' 200m, Anastasia Leroy, who finished a close second behind Calvert in the 100m, returned to win the 200m in a personal best 23.12. Calvert was second.
I feel good
Le-Roy, who shed tears of joy after the race, said: "I feel good ... coming into the stretch I said to myself that I have to take this medal (gold) ... I am so happy, she said of her first title."
Wilkins (52.14) defeated Vere's Kayann Robinson (54.80) for the Class One 400m crown, while St. Jago's Rikor Hylton, who lost out on the 400m hurdles on Friday, took the boys' equivalent in 46.28 seconds ahead of Calabar's Garfield German (46.63).
Wilkins also won the 800m in 2:11.98.
In the other girls' 400m events, first-year Class Two athlete Shana-Gaye Tracey (53.33) beat Latoya McDermott of St. Andrew (53.48) and her teammate, Deneisha Morris (54.18), while St. Jago's Samantha Woodburn (55.98) took Class Three ahead of Holmwood's Yanique Ellington (56.09). Tracey won the 400m hurdles on Friday in 57.90
Waqar DaCosta (50.14) took the Class Three boys' event ahead of St. George's Jermaine Fyffe (50.46). He also won the 800m in 2:01.17.
In the sprint hurdles, St. Jago's World Youth silver medallist Natasha Ruddock made an impressive entrance to Class One by taking victory in 14.02 ahead of Shanekia Hall of (St. Hugh's (14.21) while Class Two went to Shermaine Williams of Alpha (13.81). The Class Three 80m event was won by Lanice Hall of Vere (11.58) while the Class Four 70m event went to Chrisdale McCarthy in a personal best 10.81.
Adding to Stewart's Class One victory, KC swept the sprint hurdles with Kimarley Henry (14.16) and Lemmar Wilson (13.26) taking the Class Two 110m and Class Three 100m events, respectively.
Misha-Gaye DaCosta of Immaculate (1.80m) won the girls' Class Two high jump, while Ramone Berch of JC threw 15.92m to add the boys' Class One shot put to his discus title.
See full report in Monday's Gleaner
