Ristananna's brilliant runs secure golden double for Edwin Allen
Published: Saturday | April 25, 2009
Sisters Ristananna Tracey (left) and Nikita Tracey of Edwin Allen High School embrace after claiming one-two in the girls' 400m hurdles open final on day three of the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships recently. Both turned in magnificent performances to lead their school in achieving overwhelming success in the 4x400 and 4x800 events at the Penn Relays yesterday. They copped the Most Outstanding Individual and Relay Athlete awards.
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania:
Edwin Allen High School turned in a magnificent display to record double victories while capturing Championship of Americas titles at the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania, Franklin Field, yesterday.
The quartet of Nikita Tracey, Amoy Blake, Shashawna French and Ristananna Tracey clocked 3:41.25 to lead their team to victory in the girls' 4x400 metres relay.
Holmwood (3:41.72) and Manchester High 3:41.76 finished second and third, respectively, while Vere Technical, the other Jamaican team in the final, was disqualified.
Edwin Allen was aided by a brilliant anchor led from Ristannana Tracey,
Second brilliant effort
She clocked 54.1 seconds on her anchor leg, her second brilliant effort, following that in the 4x800 metres.
Ristananna was duly named the Most Outstanding high school female relay athlete of the meet.
Her sister Nikita, who was winning her third title of the meet, following her 400m hurdles victory on the first day, was named the Most Outstanding Individual female performer of the meet.
The Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen 4x800 metres quartet of Sharlene Nickie (2:15.4), Nikita Tracey (2:09.3), Mackola Josephs (2:11.5) and Ristananna Tracey (2:07.9), started the ball rolling earlier as they clocked 8:44.06 to win the gold medal, by upstaging the favourites, Manchester High, who finished third in 8:52.21.
Holmwood Technical placed second in 8:47.00. They led for the first three laps, before a brilliant anchor leg from Ristananna Tracey, who overtook Shantea McLean on anchor.
"I was very confident coming into the Championships. I was very disappointed last year, as we had the best team then. We were determined to make up this year. Although my team was not the dominant one coming to the Championships, I was playing possum all along as I did not run my best team all season as I was waiting for the Penn Relays.
"Three of my girls had their personal best and I am extremely happy for my anchor leg girl, Ristananna, who ran intelligently," said Dyke.
Six Jamaican teams took the track for the Championships of Americas 4x100 metres relay.
Drawn in lane nine, it was not easy for the Vere quartet of Celia Walters, Deandra Whitehorn, Jura Levy and Shericka Jackson, as they had to dig deep to win in 45.10 seconds.
They were pressured all the way by Eleanor Roosevelt out of Maryland and it took a brilliant third leg by Levy to seal Vere's placing.
The Americans finished second in 45.24 seconds. Holmwood Technical (45.33), Edwin Allen (45.46), Manchester High (46.07) and St Jago High (46.23) ended third, fourth, fifth and seventh, respectively, while Herbert Morrison were disqualified for a false start.
"I knew it was going to be very competitive but I worked extremely hard and I did what I had to do," Levy said.
Coach Rahnssman Edwards had expected a faster time.
"I am very happy for the victory but I think we could have run faster. But the climatic conditions and with Whitehorne not being 100 per cent fit, that contributed to the time," he said.
Whitehorne replaced Peter-Gaye Beckford in the final.
In the Small Schools consolation final, Alpha Academy (46.87) ended second, while St Elizabeth Technical (47.36) were fourth and Camperdown fifth in 47.75 seconds.
In the Big Schools consolation final, Wolmer's Girls were disqualified for changing out of the zone.
In the discus event, St Hugh's Candicea Bernard (45.32m) took silver, while Edwin Allen's Vanessa Levy (44.12m) took bronze.
Heats for boys
The 4x100 and 4x800 metres heats for boys also took place yesterday.
In the 4x800, Calabar
On the basis of first-round action in the 4x100m, Jamaican high schools are set to sweep the event as, of the eight finalist, seven are from the land of wood and water.
Favourites Calabar, who played it safe with their changes on all legs, is the fastest qualifier for today's final which will run off at 12:35 p.m. (Ja time) as they clocked 41.18 seconds. Herbert Morrison Technical (41.68), Wolmer's Boys (41.69), Munro College (41.81), St George's College (41.83), Kingston College (41.96) and William Knibb (42.02) are all in the final with the only American team being Atoona from Philadelphia, the slowest qualifier with 42.17.
Sisters Ristananna Tracey (left) and Nikita Tracey of Edwin Allen High School embrace after claiming one-two in the girls' 400m hurdles open final on day three of the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships recently. Both turned in magnificent performances to lead their school in achieving overwhelming success in the 4x400 and 4x800 events at the Penn Relays yesterday. They copped the Most Outstanding Individual and Relay Athlete awards.
