Terrelonge targets double-record delight at Champs
EDWIN Allen’s outstanding sprinter Theianna Lee Terrelonge warned that she is in the best form of her life as she gears up for the fast-approaching ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, with records and glory in the Class Two 100m and 200m squarely in her cross hairs.
Terrelonge, 16, again showcased her exceptional pace at Saturday’s Carifta Trials at the National Stadium by winning the Girls’ Under-20 100 metres event in a personal best time of 11.25 seconds, eclipsing her previous standard of 11.30 seconds which was set in January.
The current Class Two 100m Champs record stands at 11.45 seconds and was established by Jury Levy of Vere Technical in 2008. Terrelonge, meanwhile, holds a personal best of 23.53 seconds in the 200m and will be targeting former Vere Technical titan Shericka Jackson’s record of 23.13 seconds.
The youngster pointed to the conditioning and tutelage of Edwin Allen Head Coach Michael Dyke, and the confidence from her performances this season, as fuel for her ambitions to further improve her times and trouble the record keepers at the March 19-23 championships.
“I am definitely capable of breaking both the 100m and 200m records — they are very achievable this year,” Terrelonge told the Jamaica Observer. “I am also looking forward to great performances and personal best times at Champs this year.”
“My preparations have been going well, and with the help of my coach everything is going smoothly. I have a steady mindset going into Champs because I know I am capable, and my coach believes in me. I will stay calm and follow his guidance,” Terrelonge added.
She highlighted the importance of consistent hard work over the years and expressed confidence in reaching her goals this year.
“I also just need to train harder and continue to do what I have been doing over the years and I will get to where I want to go this year,” she asserted.
Terrelonge has been extremely consistent over the past few years.
Since 2021 she has competed in 31 100m races, losing on only three ocassions and suffering one disqualification. Over the same period in the half-lap event Terrelonge has suffered only five defeats in 23 starts.
Dyke — whose Edwin Allen team is favoured to wrestle this year’s championships title away from defending champions Hydel and return to the summit of local high school athletics — is optimistic about Terrelonge’s potential to break both Class Two sprint records at the event.
“I expect her to perform very well. While I don’t want to pressure her to break any records, if they come, that’s fine with me,” Dyke said. “Champs is a points game, and winning is satisfying. If records come, I will accept them based on her current performance.”