St Mary High top Eastern Champs
St Mary High School topped the Eastern Championships — the first in the Digicel Grand Prix series — amassing 710 points during action last Monday and Tuesday to retain their title.
Buff Bay were not far behind with 655.5 points, while Titchfield took third place with 396.
St Mary High’s Tamara Howell was named the top athlete of the meet after winning the class one girls’ 800 and 1500 metres events, and finishing second in the 3000 metres.
They also claimed category winners with Cordealia Williams and Aaron Lowe declared respective champions in class three girls and class one boys.
St Mary High also accounted for five of the nineteen meet records. Shone Walters took the class one girls’ 1500 metre in 4 minutes 57.05 seconds and the 800 metres in 2 minutes 19.57 seconds.
Sydonie McIntosh’s 12.11s landed her the class three girls’ 100m record, while Latasha Hal claimed the class two girls 800m in 2:18.87 minutes. The Class three girls sprint relay team was also in record-smashing mood, clocking 48.50 seconds.
St Mary High Coach Dwayne Williams was pleased with the team’s performance in difficult circumstances.
“It has been very, very challenging because of the weather and the consistent rains we have been getting. The discus area has been waterlogged, so I commend the athletes.
“It has been very challenging, but we prevailed. I know that Buff Bay and Titchfield were strong in the field and we had to compete with them. We know that the quality is not very high in the east, but we expected that we can come out on top, for which we are grateful. The east is like a feeding ground for the bigger schools and that is why we don’t have that high quality” Williams said.
Team Captain Johnathan Grant echoed the sentiments of his coach and said he is hoping for improved performances come the Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships scheduled for March 20-24.
“It was very challenging to train… and the weather was not so kind to us. I would be happy if we can get some help with the field. And I say thanks to the team for your commitment and performance as we look forward to good weather and to improve for Boys’ and Girls’ Championships,” Grant noted.
