Ruddock shines at Carifta Trials
published: Sunday | March 6, 2005

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

ST. JAGO HIGH'S Natasha Ruddock stole the spotlight on yesterday's final day of the 2005 Carifta Games trials at Stadium East.

The 16-year-old won the girls' Under-17 100m hurdles in an impressive 13.63 seconds.

Ruddock, who won this event at the last two Carifta Games easily dismissed Alpha's Shermaine Williams (14.21) and Francine Simpson of Edwin Allen (14.57).

In the girls' Under-20 equivalent, world youth silver medallist Latoya Greaves of Queen's won in 13.81 seconds ahead of Kimberly Laing of Immaculate (14.12) and Indira Spence of Vere (14.14).

In the boys' 110m hurdles, Wolmer's Matthew Palmer (14.69) defeated St. Jago's pair of Sheldon Wilkinson and Markino Buckley (15.08 each) for the Under-20 crown.

DOUBLE WINNERS

Meanwhile, Campion College's Theon O'Connor and Manchester High's Notaya Goule won doubles.

O'Connor won the boys' Under-20 1500m in 4:13.40 and 800m in 1:54.61 while Goule had similar wins in the Under-17 category in 4:39.80 and 2:12.06 respectively.

In the 200m where athletes ran against head winds of -4.5 metres per second, Holmwood's pair of Anneisha McLaughlin and Mickel Downer won the Under-20 girls' and boys' event respectively.

McLaughlin, the world junior
silver medallist won her final in 23.75 seconds ahead of Manchester's Stephanie Simpson (24.38) and Edwin Allen's Kimberly Smith (24.56).

Downer crossed the line in 21.50 ahead of St. Jago's pair of Buckley (21.77) and Rascive Grant (21.85).

The Under-17 titles went to St. Jago's pair of Yohan Blake (22.49) and Latoya King (24.37).

Holmwood's Romel Lewis upset KC's Leford Green in the boys' Under-20 400m hurdles final. Lewis won in 51.71 over Tywayne Buchanan of Wolmer's (52.13) and Buckley (52.39). Green finished fourth in 52.39.

Jamaica's leading female junior 400m runner, Sonita Sutherland, did not start in the 400m final. Her Holmwood coach, Maurice Wilson ,said she had a sore leg and they decided not to risk further injury

Edwin Allen's Sherene Pinnock won the event over Holmwood's Anastasia Le-Roy while Michael Gardener won the boys' division.

Freddy Green has been named chef de mission for the team set to travel to Trinidad & Tobago for the March 26-28 Carifta Games. Dwight Cunningham will manage the team.

The team and coaches will be named tomorrow.