PETERSFIELD, Westmoreland — The western high school track and field athletics calendar got off to a great start last Thursday when over 400 runners took part in the County of Cornwall Athletics Association’s (COCAA) Cross Country championships held at Petersfield High School in Westmoreland.

Stephen Smith, president of COCAA was pleased with the turn out of the event that was sponsored by J&G Alternative Energy Solutions, telling the Jamaica Observer West, “This is the biggest cross country we have had in a long time and this is a great sign for what is to come for the season.”

The boys’ under-19 section which was run over a six-Kilometre course, attracted the most entries, as just over 100 runners contested the section that was won by St Elizabeth Technical’s (STETHS) Najae Stewart, ahead of Petersfield’s Tion Grey and Demar Hylton, another STETHS runner.

Munro College boys and STETHS girls, who each won two of three sections, retained their overall titles.

Munro College took the boys Under-14 and Under-16 sections, to win ahead of STETHS in the boys’ section, while STETHS who were tops in the girls Under 16 and Under-19 classes, won the girls section ahead of Rusea’s High and Petersfield High.

Petersfield High won the boys’ Under 19 section, while Rusea’s High took honours in the girls Under-14 three-Kilo race.

Rusea’s also won two individual races in the girls’ section with Kimone Buchanan finishing first in the Under-14 girls ahead of teammate Tara Bolt, while STETHS’ Shaniel Smith was third.

Stephanie Barrett won the Under 19 section over five Kilometres beating the STETHS pair of Alethia McLaughlin and Chantai Smith.

Jauvaney James and Janelle Bromfield, both of STETHS, won the boys and girls Under 16 sections respectively; James beat his teammate Shemar Salmon to the line with Muschett High’s Romaine Gabbidon third.

Bromfield won her race ahead of Shanique Sommerville of Mannings School and Kara Sampath of Frome Technical.

Meanwhile, Rushane Fullerton gave Munro College their only individual win, taking the boys under-14 section over four Kilometres, ahead of Petersfield’s Romar Scott and Lacovia High’s Ryan Dewar.