REGIONAL CHAMPS Reviews
The regional championships have been completed, and the results show that both the girls and boy’s championships will be very competitive. Although the Eastern and Western Championships had their share of excitement, it was the central and corporate (urban) championships that had tracks fans speculating that the defending champions (Kingston College and Edwin Allen) may have a hard time holding on to their crown.
Eastern Champs
The eastern championships have always been relatively low key, as far as quality of performances are concerned. This year was no different, but there were a few quality athletes on show. Class three 400m/800M athlete Rasheed Grant and Class I middle distance athlete Shone Walters of St Mary High, seem poised to make their mark at the ISSA championships, while sprint hurdler Chemoya Roberts of Morant Bay is a strong contender in her pet event.
Western Champs
As expected, the quality of performances at the western Championships were quite high. National Representatives Deandre Daley, Alexis James, Carleta Bernard and Sabrina Dockery were the stars at the championship, while Tremaine Todd, Jashauna Dennis and Shamar Blake showed that STETHS will be strong contenders in the sprints and hurdles.
Giana Murray of Mount Alvernia, Shanoya Douglas of Mushette, Yoshane Bowen and Jaden brown of Maggotty are all contenders for medals at the ISSA boys’ and girls’ champs.
Central Champs
Central Champs boasts the top four teams at the girl’s championships and although these teams are wary about overexposure of their athletes, a lot can be learnt from the head-to-head battles between the athletes of these teams. Based on the performances and the results in the girl’s section of central champs, it is quite apparent that there will be a three-way battle between Edwin Allen, Hydel and Holmwood for girl’s championship supremacy. St, Jago although still a top four team, is not as strong as in previous years and will not be contending for the top spot.
Clashes at central champs were hotter than hot, and a number of records were broken. Kiara Meikle (Holm) and Camoy Binger (Hydel) both broke Kerrica Hill’s class II 100m hurdles record, Rickian Russell (Holm) and Oneika McAnnuff (Hydel) both ran sub 52 seconds to break the class on 400M record, and Cedrika Williams ((Holm) and Abigail Martin (St. Jago) both threw over 53 metres, breaking the class one record. But it was the 100M clash between world junior medalists Serena Cole (Edwin) and Alana Reid (Hydel) that brought the house down, with Reid finally defeating Cole over the 100m distance.
It is worth mentioning that Hydel’s Carifta gold medalists Binger and Campbell as well as Edwin Allen’s Moesha Gayle all participated in central champs but will not be able to compete at the ISSA championships due to transfer rules.
Corporate Champs
Corporate champs boast the top three boy’s teams, Kingston College, Jamaica College and Calabar High. There were always rumors that Calabar would be a major contender at the 2023 ISSA boy’s champs. Rumor became a reality when Calabar placed a close second to Kingston College, while Jamaica College was close enough to the top two schools, to feel good about their championship prospects.
Again, all three schools were cautious about overextending their athletes and a number of top athletes did not participate in their main events. There were also athletes who did participate at the corporate champs but would not be able to compete at the ISSA championships due to the strict ISSA rules. Injuries to top athletes again reared its ugly head as a number of top athletes did not complete their events and a few had to be stretchered off.
It is also instructive to note, that most top athletes from the top schools only participated in one event, and a number of medal contenders did not even participate in their main event. So Calabar’s, Byron Walker (100m), Shaquane Gordon (110M hurdles), Alejandro Palmer (400m,800M), Jamaica College’s , Mark-Miller (400m), Kemario Bygrave (800m), Kingston College’s Antonio Forbes (400m hurdles), Daniel Clarke, Kaheim Carby (110M hurdles), were all missing from their main events.
Coach Corey Bennett will certainly make History this year, regardless of where his teams (Calabar and Hydel) finish at the ISSA championships. But if his schools win both the boys and girl’s championships, that would truly be historical.
written by Oliver Harris
