By George Henry, Freelance WriterSPALDINGS, Clarendon:
VERE TECHNICAL High School were crowned overall champions at this year's two-day South Central Athletics Championship which came to an end at Kirkvine in Manchester on Wednesday.
Vere amassed 464 points ahead of Holmwood's 447, Edwin Allen's 422 and Manchester's 300. Vere girls came out champions with 362 points, Edwin Allen were second with 354 and Holmwood third with 299.
In the boys' section, Central High School, out of May Pen, were crowned champions with 236 points, while the Holmwood boys were second with 148 points and Vere third with 102.
There were impressive performances by the South Central athletes in preparation for this year's staging of the Boys and Girls Championships.
Manchester High's Nesta Carter put on a good show in capturing gold medals in the Class One 100 and 200 metres. Class Four girl Denesha Morris, also of Manchester High, sprinted away with two gold medals while winning the 100 and 200m.
The Class Two girls 200m event went to Edwin Allen's Naffene Briscoe in an impressive time of 24.16 seconds. Sonita Sutherland of Holmwood won the Class Three 200 in 23.41 seconds, while her teammate, Anastasia Leroy, placed second in 23.67.
Vere's Simone Facey continued to impress in the Class One 200m. She won that event in a fast 22.95 seconds, while sending a signal to Holmwood's Anneisha McLaughlin that she will have to run well to beat her in that event at Girls Champs this year. Tracey-Ann Rowe of Holmwood placed second in the race with a time of 23.36. The boys' Class Four 200m went to Central High's Byron Benny. The Class Three 200 was won by Marlon Hanson of May Day High. Mikel Downer of Holmwood won the Class Two event in 21.48. There were also good performances in the 400m event. However, the surprise win of the meet went to Knox College in the boys' Class One. The event was won by Carlington Morgan, much to the disappointment of Holmwood who many expected to win with Dwayne Blackwood. Morgan won the race in a smart time of 48.40. Gavon Archibald also gave Knox College a gold medal in the boys' Class Three 400m. He clocked 51.55 seconds.
Holmwood won the girls Classes One, Two and Three 400m with Boby-Gaye Wilkins, Sonita Sutherland and Nyoka Cole clocking 57.55, 55.04 and 55.92 respectively.
Holmwood Technical won the boys' Class One and Two 4x100, the boys' 4x400 as well as the girls' 4x400m. The Class One girls' 4x100 went to Vere Technical.
