Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Norman Grindley, Staff PhotographerKeisha Brown of Vere Technical (left) winning the Class 2 100m low hurdles at the VMBS Boys and Girls championships at the National Stadium yesterday. Brown's winning time was 13.81. Christiana's Camille Robinson (not in photograph) was second in 13.89 while Holmwood Technical's Shaunette Davidson (right) was third in 13.91.
VERE Technical High were crowned girls champions at the VMBS Boys and Girls championships but the boys race was still too close to call after five gruelling days of competition at the National Stadium last night.
KC, with 35 of 37 finals completed, were on top with what appeared to be an unassailable 183 points. Defending champions Jamaica College and St. Jago High were on 161 points each, Calabar 158.50, Bridgeport 89, St. George's 57, Wolmer's and Munro on 55 each, Christiana 51 and Holmwood 30.
Late last night the Jury of Appeal at the meet was, however, still reported to be meeting to rule on a lane violation in the the final by Kingston College's Class 1 400m winner Kimani Williams.
While the race for the boys title has been close and sometimes controversial it was a virtual one-horse race from day one in the girls competition. Vere trampled their rivals and were on 324 points after 40 of 43 finals. Holmwood 226 and St. Jago 213.50 were still locked in a battle for second spot and the top three were followed by Edwin Allen Comprehensive 107, Immaculate Conception 92.50, Queen's High 82, St. Andrew high 75.5, Wolmer's Girls 68.5, St. Elizabeth Technical 61 and Manchester High 58.5.
The final day was highlighted by spectacular performances from two world class female athletes. World junior champion Veronica Campbell of Vere Technical completed the sprint double in Class 1 and in so doing became the first female athlete to go under 23 seconds at the annual meet. Campbell destroyed the 200 metres field winning by a wide margin in 22.92. On Friday night Campbell posted a record 11.13 to take the 100m.
Holmwood Technical's wonder girl, 15-year-old Aneisha McLaughlin, posted two outstanding times in the Class 3 400m and 200m finals.
In the opening event of the afternoon McLaughlin clocked 52.52 in the Class 3 400m to erase the 53.77 mark she set last year. Then three hours 30 minutes later McLaughlin came back to register a very fast 23.11 in the 200 metres final smashing the 23.64 set by Edwin Allen Comprehensive's Lisa Sharpe in 1999.
Eight records were set at press time on the final day of the annual meet. Carlene Robinson of Christiana Comprehensive ran a well-judged race to catch and beat Edwin Allen's Kayann Thompson in the Class 2 800 metres clocking a very good 2.07.74. Her time bettered the 2.09.21 set by Holmwood's Karen Gayle in 1999.
Minutes later, as if stung by the loss of her record, Gayle literally streaked to a 2.06.64 record time in the Class 1 800m. Gayle's time was well under the 2.07.02 held by Inez Turner (Vere) since 1991.
Two outstanding times were also returned in the Class 3 and 1 sprint relays. Holmwood's quality girls Class 3 team led by McLaughlin clocked a record 46.37 in the then Vere's Class 1 girls led by Campbell sprinted to an excellent 44.64 The boys also shared the record-breaking spotlight. Wolmer's Matthew Palmer hurdled impressively to win the Class 3 100m event in 13.09. Brian Hay of Calabar set the old mark of 13.53 last year.
St. George's College's ace Class 2 sprinter Tesfa Latty completed the double in the class following his win in the 100m on Friday night. Latty powered off the curve to win the 200m in 21.61. His time went under the 21.67 set by JC's Winston Smith in 1999.
Andre Wellington of KC completed a very successful meet by winning his third individual gold in a record time. Wellington outleaned Wolmer's Palmer to take the Class 3 200m final in 22.48. Palmer's time, 22.50, was also below the previous record of 22.73 set by Wolmerian Michael Frater in 1997.
