St Andrew’s JTA/Sagicor Champs success down to hard work, says Smith
MERLENE Smith, coordinator for St Andrew, said hard work and dedication were the main reasons behind their success at the recently concluded 33rd staging of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association /Sagicor Jamaica National Primary All Age and Junior High Schools Athletics Championships.
The parish enjoyed its 18th hold on the title with a combined total of 359.50 points, over 100 points ahead of second-placed St Catherine in the two-day championships held at the National Stadium.
“I am very elated, and feel very good to have won again. I was also very confident that St Andrew would have won, as the athletes have trained very hard to come away with this coveted championships, despite a few little disappointments in some of the races,” Smith said.
“During action on the first day, I was a bit worried during the early hours where we were not doing well with our qualifying times for the finals. When the first day ended, I felt much better in terms of how things were going for St Andrew,” she added.
St Andrew’s parish team is made up of St Richard’s, St Jude’s, Maxfield, Red Hills, Rousseau and St Francis Primary Schools, while from the Primary and Junior High Schools, John Mills, Melrose, Central Branch, Shortwood Practising, Stony Hill, Constant Spring, Golden Spring, Louise Bennett-Coverley and New Day.
Meanwhile, Kevin Wilson of St Andrew was overall male champion with 23 points, with Shamar Davis and Nemoy Cockett of St Andrew finishing in joint second place, with 22 points each. The overall female champion was Ramoya Thompson of St Thomas, who scored 24 points.
Both Wilson and Thompson will be awarded scholarships for their tenure in secondary schools, courtesy of sponsor Sagicor.
Class champions were: Girls – (Under-9) Ramoya Thompson of St Thomas with 24 points; (Under-11) – Chevaughna Grant of Portland with 18 points; (Under-13) – Brianna Lyston from St Catherine with 18 points.
Champion boys were: (Under-9) – Kamar Whittle of St Catherine with 20 points; (Under-11) – Jelani Findley from St Andrew with 15 points; (Under-13) – Roshane McLeod from Westmoreland with 18 points.
