Jamaica Gleaner News - Coaches say winning was more difficult than margin suggested - Monday

Coaches say winning was more difficult than margin suggested
published: Monday | March 17, 2008

Anthony Foster, Freelance Reporter

Top: Members of the champion Calabar High boys team celebrate at the National Stadium on Saturday after wrapping up their second consecutive win at the GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships. Bottom: Champions Holmwood celebrate their sixth straight title after registering a big vitrory on Saturday's final day. - photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Michael Clarke and Maurice Wilson, head coaches of champions Calabar High's boys and Holmwood Technical's girls, respectively, believe the margin of victory doesn't give a true reflection of how difficult it was to win the 2008 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships.

Wilson, who has guided Holmwood to sixth straight titles, said: "I think it was a great Championship for us. We really had to work extremely hard, even though it seems as if we won by a lot of points, I had to depend on the younger ones to perform well."

Holmwood beat Vere by more than 140 points.

Clarke, in the meantime, said Champs was not easy.

"It was very difficult, very difficult," he said. "In terms of this victory I was surprised the margin was so wide, but congratulations to the schools who made the competition far more enticing and far more exciting."

KC finished second

Calabar (277.5) defeated main rivals Kingston College (KC) (233) by 44.5 points. St. Jago finished a distant third with 155.5 points, while Jamaica College (JC) ended fourth on 153.

"It's just our time now," added Clarke, arguably one of the island's best junior coaches. "We will continue to plan, we will continue to strive for the highest," he added, while saying they are on target to make it three straight.

"I thought more than less that if we win this one it would have positioned us much better for next year".

Asked about a fourth and fifth, he replied: "Our programme is always long term."

Meanwhile, Wilson said Holm-wood's six straight victories would not have been possible without the full support of manager Chester McCarthy and coaches Dave Anderson, Kirk Brown and Dwight Jones.

"I think those persons really contributed. Also Pat Anderson, sponsors Windalco, CariMead, SuperPlus, along with vice-principal Edward Hector and Paul Bailey, the principal. I think we all came together as a team and were able to produce this victory," he said, while hailing outside contributions from Yvonne Kong and Edwin Murray, principal and vice-Principal at G.C. Foster College.

Holmwood finished with 352 points, which put Wilson spot on with his prediction.

"I am not a mathematician, but obviously I have luck with numbers," he joked.

Left: Maurice Wilson, coach of Holmwood's girls Right: Michael Clarke of Calabar. - file photos

FINAL POINTS STANDINGS

MALE

1. Calabar (277.50)
2. KC (233)
3. St. Jago (155.50)
4. JC (153)
5. Wolmer's (128)
6. Munro (61)
7. Herbert Morrison (47)
8. Bridgeport (42)
9. St. George's (37)
10. Holmwood (34)
11. Camperdown (33)
12. Morant Bay (26)
13. Edwin Allen (24)
14. Mannings (23)
14. STETHS (23)
16. Bellefield (20)
17. Campion (16)
18. Greater Portmore (11)
18. Old Harbour (11)
20. William Knibb (9)
21. Mile Gully (8)
22. Ardenne (7)
22. Vere (7)
22. Manchester (7)
23. Mona (5)
25. Albert Town (5)
25. Seaforth (5)
28. May Day (4)
29. Green Island (3)
29. Claude McKay (3)
31. Kellits (2)
31. Cornwall (2)
31. Glengoffe (2)
31. Belair (2)
35. Holy Trinity (1)
35. St. Mary's College (1)

FEMALE

1. Holmwood (352)
2. Vere (210.50)
3. Edwin Allen (206)
4. Manchester (147)
5. St. Jago (125.50)
6. Wolmer's (124.50)
7. St. Andrew High (86.50)
8. Alpha (85)
9. STETHS (75)
10. Immaculate (57)
11. Herbert Morrison (45)
12. St. Hugh's (42)
13. The Queen's (30)
14. Morant Bay (14)
15. St. Thomas Tech (12)
16. Campion (11)
17. St. Catherine (10)
18. Frome Tech (8)
19. Glengoffe (7)
19. Papine (7)
20. Happy Grove (5)
21. Bellefield (5)
23. St. Mary's College (4)
23. Oberlin (4)
23. William Knibb (4)
23. Clarendon College (4)
27. Charlemont (3)
27. Dinthill Tech (3)
29. Buff Bay (2)
29. Christiana (2)
31. Glenmuir (1)
31. Tarrant (1)
31. Meadowbrook (1)

Holmwood Technical's Bobbie-Gaye Wilkins (right) raises her arm in triumph to celebrate her team's 4x400 metres victory in the penultimate event at Champs on Saturday night. Wilkins, who got the baton nearly 20 metres behind the leader, ran a remarkable 50.8-second split on the anchor leg to lead her team to a sensational win.

Boys' and girls' championships results

Top three finishers in all events at the 2008 GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships:

BOYS CLASS ONE

100m - 1. Yohan Blake (St. Jago) 10.27, 2. Nickel Ashmeade (St. Jago) 10.34, 3. Dexter Lee (Herb Morr.) 10.43.

200m - 1. Nickel Ashmeade (St. Jago) 21.04, 2. Ramone McKenzie (Calabar) 21.05, 3. Yohan Blake (St. Jago) 21.31.400m - 1. Ramone McKenzie (Calabar) 46.62, 2. Riker Hylton (St. Jago) 47.33, 3. Darrion Bent (Mannings) 47.52.800m - Theon O'Connor (Campion) 1:51.15, 2. Conroy Crossman (Edwin Allen) 1:53.03, 3. Andre Thomas (Calabar High) 1:54.38.1500m - 1. Andre Thomas (Calabar) 3:52.55, 2. Conroy Crossman (Edwin Allen) 3:52.69, 3. Kemoy Campbell (Bellefield) 3:54.70.110m hurdles - 1. Ackeem Smith (St. Jago) 13.822, 2. Keiron Stewart (KC) 13.824, 3. Andrew Riley (Calabar) 14.13.High jump - 1. Andrew Riley (Calabar) 2.10m, 2. Machel Baker (St. Jago) 2.10m, 3. Omari Dookie (KC) 2.05m.Long jump - 1. Tarik Batchelor (KC) 7.60m, 2. Dean Swimmer (Morant Bay) 7.27m, 3. Akeem Elliott (Wolmer's) 7.10m.Shot put - 1. Odaine Chisholm (Bridgeport) 16.42m, 2. Noel Facey (Calabar) 15.61m, 3. Damion Johnson (JC) 15.37m.

Discus - 1. Shane Dodd (JC) 48.95m, 2. Keiton Wilson (KC) 47.75m, 3. Noel Facey (Calabar) 47.25m.

4x100m - 1. Calabar 40.28, 2. Camperdown 40.59, 3. Herbert Morrison 40.79.

CLASS TWO

100m - 1. Earl Lee (Calabar) 10.82, 2. Rolando Reid (Munro) 10.83, 3. Kemar Bailey-Cole (Old Harbour) 10.85.

200m - 1. Travis Drummond (Calabar) 22.40, 2. Teivaskie Lewin (Herb. Morr.) 22.45, 3. Rolando Reid (Munro) 22.65.

400m - 1. Teivaskie Lewin (Herb. Morr.) 48.63, 2. Andre Pickersgill (KC) 49.00, 3. A-Shawni Mitchell (Wolmer's) 49.08.

800m - 1. Waquar Dacosta (JC) 1:57.77), 2. Earl Grant (JC) 1:58.22, 3. Kevin White (Holmwood) 1:59.20).

1500m - 1. Waquar Dacosta (JC) 4:08.61, 2. Kevin White (Holmwood) 4:09.89, 3. Rogeek Rochester (Edwin Allen) 4:10.65.

110m hurdles - 1. D'Omar Boyden (KC) 14.70, 2. Travis Drummond (Calabar) 14.77, 3. Ramon Miller (Calabar) 14.95.

High jump - 1. Jovan Hardware (Calabar) 2.05m, 2. Jonathan Reid (KC) 2.00m, 3. Ramone Bailey (Wolmer's) 1.90m.

Long jump - 1. Jerome Wilson (KC) 7.26m, 2. Teivaskie Lewin (Herb. Morr.) 7.19m, 3. Julian Forte (Wolmer's) 7.05m.

Shot put: 1. Rojay Dacres (Calabar) 15.34m, 2. Richard Wilson (Calabar) 14.75m), 3. Kerry Espit, Bridgeport 14.58m.

Discus - 1. Travis Smikle (Calabar) 47.61m, 2. Raschane Cunningham (KC) 45.96m, 3. Rajae Gayle (Munro) 45.41m.

4x100m - 1. Calabar 41.78, 2. KC 42.06, 3.Wolmer's 42.12.

CLASS THREE

100m - 1. Adam Cummings (Munro) 10.91 (Record), 2. Jazeel Murphy (Bridgeport) 10.97, 3. Andre Robinson (St. Jago) 11.37.

200m - 1. Jazeel Murphy (Bridgeport) 22.62, 2. Odean Skeen (Wolmer's) 23.02, 3. Adam Cummings (Munro) 23.28.

400m - 1. Carlton Cousins (Calabar) 51.99, 2. Demar Levy (STETHS) 52.36), 3. Deveraux Senior (Wolmer's) 52.69.

800m - 1. Stephen Rose (St. Jago) 2:02.23, 2. Romaine Headman (JC) 2:03.40), 3. Josef Thomas (Ardenne) 2:03.41.

100m hurdles - 1. Stefan Fennell (KC) 13.68), 2. Odean Skeen (Wolmer's) 13.98, 3. Deveraux Senior (Wolmer's) 14.19.

High jump - 1. Clive Pullen (KC) 1.85m, 2. Demar Robinson (Calabar) 1.80m, 3. Jason Lewis (Wolmer's) 1.75m.

Long jump - 1. Clive Pullen (KC) 6.48m, 2. Keneil Grant (KC) 6.43m, 3. Owen Smith, (Calabar) 6.28m.

4x100m - 1. St. Jago 43.96, 2. KC 44.31, 3. Wolmer's (44.87).

OPEN EVENTS

5000m - 1. Kemoy Campbell, Bellefield (14:49.39); 2. Jermaine Blake, Mile Gully (15:45.88); 3. Lorenzo Wedderman, Holmwood (15:57.95).

400m hurdles - 1. Keiron Stewart, KC (50.29); 2. Andre Peart, KC (50.44); 3. Riker Hylton, St. Jago (52.09).

4x400m - 1. St. Jago High (3:11.86); 2. KC (3:12.82) and 3. Calabar (3:12.88).

Medley Relays - 1. KC (3:32.64); 2. Calabar (3:33.02); 3. STETHS (3:33.48).

Triple Jump - 1. Tarik Batchelor (KC) 15.41m, 2. Damon McLean (Campion) 14.81m, 3. Shayon Daniel (Calabar) 14.76m.

Pole Vault - 1. Chad Scott (JC) 4.20m, 2. K'Don Samuels (JC) 4.10m, 3. Devon Dobson (Calabar) 4.00m.

GIRLS CLASS ONE

100m - Shawna Anderson (Edwin Allen) 11.58, 2. Gayon Evans (Edwin Allen) 11.73, 3. Danielle Jeffrey (Immaculate) 11.85.200m - 1. Shawna Anderson (Edwin Allen) 24.61, 2. Kayan Robinson (Vere) 24.79, 3. Naffene Briscoe 24.82.

400m - 1. Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (Holmwood) 52.46, 2. Kayan Robinson (Vere) 54.67, 3. Shakeeri Cole (Edwin Allen) 54.85.

800m - 1. Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (Holmwood) 2:10.89, 2. Shakeeri Cole (Edwin Allen) 2:11.86, 3. Keno Heaven (Holmwood) 2:12.85.1500m - 1. Petrona Layne (Vere) 4:39.82, 2. Teneisha Davis (Vere) 4:42.01, 3. Roshane Boreland (St. Jago) 4:42.54.

100m hurdles - 1. Rosemarie Carty (Alpha) 14.17, 2. Janelle Gordon (Wolmer's) 14.25, 3. Kaymarie Jones (Vere) 14.41.

Long jump - 1. Todea-Kay Willis (St. Andrew High) 6.13m, 2. Salcia Slack, Holmwood 5.92m, 3. Shawna Anderson (Edwin Allen) 5.82m.High jump - 1. Anna-Lisa Myers (Wolmer's) 1.70m, 1. Claudia Calder (Alpha) 1.70m (tie for first), 3. Janelle Gordon (Wolmer's) 1.65m.Discus - 1. Salcia Slack (Holmwood) 45.13m (Record), 2. Micara Vassell (St. Hugh's) 40.18m, 3. Kaymarie Jones (Vere) 39.47m.

4x100m - 1. Edwin Allen 45.26, 2. Holmwood 46.01, 3. Vere 46.64.

CLASS TWO

100m - 1. Jura Levy (Vere) 11.46 (Record), 2. Carrie Russell (St. Thomas Tech) 11.58, 3. Sashane Gayle (Holmwood) 11.93.

200m - 1. Jura Levy (Vere) 24.48, 2. Antonique Campbell (Herb. Morr.) 24.62, 3. Denesha Morris (Manchester) 25.07.

400m - 1. Antonique Campbell (Herb. Morr.) 54.58, 2. Amoy Blake (Edwin Allen) 54.99, 3. Denesha Morris (Manchester) 55.11.

800m - 1. Natoya Goule (Manchester) 2:08.78, 2. Nikita Tracey (Edwin Allen) 2:12.83, 3. Mackola Joseph (Edwin Allen) 2:12.97.

1500m - 1. Natoya Goule (Manchester) 4:36.36, 2. Mackola Joseph (Edwin Allen) 4:41.40, 3. Kimberly Brown (Manchester) 4:44.94.Shot put - 1. Rojay Dacres (Calabar) 15.34m, 2. Richard Wilson (Calabar) 14.75m, 3. Kerry Espit (Bridgeport) 14.58m.

Discus - 1. Candicea Bernard (St. Hugh's) 40.24m, 2. Kerry-Ann Walker (Holmwood) 35.06m), 3. Evanna Whitehorne (Vere) 30.92m.Long jump: 1. Ann-Marie Duffus (Edwin Allen) 5.72m, 2. Jhennelle Facey (Wolmer's) 5.63m, 3. Kathie-Lee Laidley (St. Andrew High) 5.28m.

High jump - 1. Terri-Ann Grant (Immaculate) 1.70m, 2. Misha-Gaye Dacosta (Immaculate) 1.70m, 3. Rochelle Reid (STETHS) 1.65m.

100m hurdles - 1. Samantha Elliott (Immaculate) 14.246, 2. Chene Townsend (Alpha) 14.248, 3. Leslie-Ann Mitchell (Manchester) 14.35.4x100m - 1. Holmwood 45.73, 2. Manchester 46.02, 3. Edwin Allen 46.57.

CLASS THREE

100m - 1. Deandre Whitehorne, Vere (11.74); 2. Shericka Moulton, Holmwood (11.83); 3. Cardine Copeland, Wolmer's (11.89).

200m - 1. Sandrae Farquharson, Manchester (24.66); 2. Shericka Jackson, Vere (24.74); 3. Cardine Copeland, Wolmer's (24.84).

400m - 1. Sandrae Farquharson, Manchester (54.25); 2. Shericka Jackson, Vere (54.27); 3. Jody-Ann Smith, Campion (56.94).

800m - 1. Shantea McLean (Holmwood) 2:13.89, 2. Jhevere Hall (Papine) 2:19.05, 3. Chantalia Watson (Holmwood) 2:20.80.

1500m - 1. Shantea McLean (Holmwood) 4:45.18, 2. Carla Thompson (Edwin Allen) 4:47.42, 3. Petrine Plummer (Holmwood) 4:53.25.

80m hurdles - 1. Ackeisha Burnette (Wolmer's) 11.47, 2. Samantha Scarlett (St. Jago) 11.61, 3. Ladonna Richards (St. Catherine) 11.72.

Discus - 1 Marsielle McBean (Vere) 32.55m, 2. Tamika Frater (Vere) 31.67m, 3. Kellion Knibb (St. Jago) 31.15m.

Long jump - 1. Rochelle Farquharson (STETHS) 6.02m, 2. Janeive Russell (Holmwood) 5.88m, 3. Osheen Erskine (Holmwood) 5.80m.

High jump: 1. Shanice Hall (Womer's) 1.74m (Record), 2. Petagaye Reid (STETHS) 1.74m (Record), 3. Janeive Russell (Holmwood) 1.70m.

4x100m - 1. Wolmer's 48.97, 2. STETHS 49.06, 3. Manchester 47.83.

CLASS FOUR

100m - 1. Chris-Ann Gordon (Holmwood) 12.08, 2. Kedisha Dallas (Holmwood) 12.37, 3. Opal James (STETHS) 12.44.

200m - 1. Chris-Ann Gordon (Holmwood) 25.32, 2. Kessi-Ann Brown (Wolmer's) 26.10, 3. Oshin Brooks-Gillings (Alpha) 26.25.

High jump: 1. Tatiana Wolfe (Alpha) 1.55m, 2. Shanice McPherson (Holmwood) 1.55m, 3. Tishauna Francis (Queen's) 1.55m.

Long jump: 1. Opal James (STETHS) 5.52m (Record), 2. Shanice McPherson (Holmwood) 5.40m, 3. Trishana Smith (Edwin Allen) 5.22m.

70m hurdles - 1. Shenelle Francis (St. Jago) 10.91, 2. Tatiana Wolfe (Alpha) 11.22, 3. Jahirah Dickenson (Wolmer's) 11.27.

4x100m - 1. Holmwood 48.13, 2. St. Jago 49.11, 3. Alpha 49.67.

OPEN EVENTS

400m hurdles - 1. Shana-Gaye Tracey (Manchester) 58.18, 2. Nikita Tracey (Edwin Allen) 58.95, 3. Andrea Reid (Holmwood) 59.25.

Javelin - 1. Ichama Dawkins (St. Jago) 36.31m, 2. Cassandra Bennett (Holmwood) 34.94m, 3. Kellion Knibb (St. Jago) 30.97m.

3000m - 1. Niesha Morgan (Manchester) 10:34.57, 2. Amoya Bailey (Holmwood) 10:35.52, 3. Roshane Boreland (St. Jago) 10:43.57.

Triple Jump - 1. Salcia Slack (Holmwood) 13.23m, 2. Todea-Kay Willis (St. Andrew) 12.61m, 3. Jhanelle McLeod (Immaculate) 12.10m.

Sprint Medley - 1. Edwin Allen 4:03.97, 2. Holmwood 4:08.13, 3. Vere 4:08.83.

4x400m - 1. Holmwood 3:36.44, 2. Vere 3:36.82, 3. Edwin Allen 3:37.06.

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