FROM THE PUBLISHER

By: Oliver ‘Elmo’ Harris
Edwin Allen is on course to win their
fourth consecutive Girls’ Championship
title. In 2014 and 2015, they won
by more than 100 points, but in 2016
their margin of victory was 67 points.
Edwin Allen has however regrouped
and expects to widen their margin of
victory. This Edwin Allen team is quite
a balanced one and they will score
heavily in all classes on the track and
on the field. They also have a number
of outstanding athletes like middle
distance queen Cemore Donald and
their new Class Three sprinting sensation
Kevona Davis. They have already
successfully defended their Central
Champs and Digicel Grand Prix titles.
At this year’s Championships, their
main rivals will again be Hydel, St. Jago
and Holmwood. All three team have
improved, but are not strong enough
to dethrone Edwin Allen. The Hydel
team, led by Carifta high jump and
400M hurdles champion Shian Salmon,
is relatively strong and should be
able to maintain their second position.
They should however be careful of
the resurgent St. Jago and Holmwood
squads that are capable of challenging
Hydel’s spot. St. Jago is led by
their top jumper and sprinter Tissana
Hickling, while Holmwood Technical
boasts a very strong middle and long
distance squad led by Chrissani May.
Vere Technical will remain in fifth position,
but they will provide the Championships
with top quality athletes like
Britney Anderson, Amoi Brown and
Sanique Walker who are all poised
to break Champs records in the sprint
and intermediate hurdles.
There are a number of squads that have shown marked improvement. Last year, Excelsior
placed sixth at Champs, their first entry into the top ten for a number of years. They won the
2017 Corporate Championships and should continue to be the top urban school. They are
led by sprint hurdlers Renee Shaw and Ackera Nugent, both of whom have been having a
very successful 2017 season.
No one can fail to notice the improving squads from the western region. Rusea’s High School
won the Western Championship for the first time and will showcase Myesha Nott and Nia
Robinson, two athletes who are poised to do very well in the triple and long jump events.
Petersfield continues its growth and could win a number of events, especially with middle
distance phenom Shaquena Foote intending to make her name at these Championships.
We now look at the events that will unfold over the next five days.
DISCUS CLASS I
Record: Shanice Love (XLCR) – 52.73m (2016)
BAILEY WINS HER FIRST GOLD AT CHAMPS
1. G. Bailey (St.J) _______________________
2. F. Richards (Ed.A.) _______________________
3. D. Brown (Hydel) _______________________
4. S. Smith (Peters.) _______________________
5. T. Ranger (Xlcr) _______________________
6. S. McPherson (Ed.A.) _______________________
7. K. Clarke (ICHS) _______________________
8. G. Samuel (Holm.) _______________________
FINALISTS
Gabrielle Bailey of St. Jago is having an
outstanding season. The former St. Andrew
high student has never won a medal at
Champs, but since transferring to St. Jago, has
improved by leaps and bounds. She defeated
her main rivals at the Carifta Trials and again at
Central Champs. Fiona Richards of Edwin Allen
is a former Girls’ Championship gold medallist
while Devia Brown of Hydel won the event at
the Carifta Games. They are tough competitors
and hope to mount a serious challenge for the
gold. Western Champs winner Shyledeen
Smithof Petersfield could cause an upset and
upstage the favourites.
SEASON’S BESTS: Richards – 51.01m, Bailey–
49.11m, Brown – 46.80m, Smith – 46.64m,
Ranger – 44.90m.
SHOT PUT CLASS II
Record: Rochelle Frazer (Ed.A) – 15.93m (2013)
CAN SLOLEY WIN THE GOLD FOR IMMACULATE?
1. S. Hudson (Holm.) _______________________
2. D. Sloley (ICHS) _______________________
3. M. Forbes (Vere) _______________________
4. K. Thompson (Holm.)_______________________
5. A. Shaw (Rusea’s) _______________________
6. K. Reid (Ed.A.) _______________________
7. S. Scott (St.J) _______________________
8. P. Forrest (Hydel) _______________________
FINALISTS
Daniel Sloley of Immaculate is the top thrower
in this class. She won the event at the Queen’s/
Grace Jackson meet with a season’s best
performance of 14.74m. However she was
beaten by Shaday Hudson of Holmwood at
the Carifta Trials where she only managed to
throw 13.56m. Sloley knows that she will need
to get back to her early season form to win
the gold medal. Aleisha Shaw of Rusea’s and
Marie Forbes of Vere will contend for the minor
medals.
SEASON’S BESTS: Sloley – 14.74m, Hudson
– 14.03m, Forbes – 13.54m, Thompson –
13.43m, Shaw– 13.38m.
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