Hydel’s Campbell weighs options after Girls’ Champs farewell
Hydel High School standout Abigail Campbell is gracefully closing one chapter while already preparing to write the next in her track and field career.
The 19-year-old from Brown’s Town, St Ann, capped off her final season in high school athletics with a powerful performance, winning the girls’ 400m in 52.17 seconds in the high school section during the prestigious Grand Slam Track on Saturday. She also anchored her school’s quartet to victory in the girls’ 4x400m relay in 3:14.74 during Grand Slam Track on Sunday.
The successes were no surprise for the former Ferncourt High student, who has never lost a 400m final at the National Stadium.
As she prepares to move on from high school, her eyes are set firmly on the future.
“Moving forward, going to college, and trying to be successful at what I’m doing right now,” she said. “I have received some offers from overseas colleges, but my options are open right now, and so anything is possible.”
The Hydel athlete’s biggest moment came just last month when she left the ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships with three gold medals around her neck. Campbell struck gold in the girls’ Class One 400m and then anchored Hydel to victory in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, helping her school secure their second title in three years.
Hydel tallied 277 points from the 46 finals, finishing 11 points ahead of Edwin Allen High. Holmwood Technical secured third place with 230.50 points, while St Jago High (149) and Immaculate Conception (100) rounded out the top five.
“This was my last time competing at Champs, and so I wanted to finish it in style, and that’s what I did,” Campbell said.
She believes she will leave Hydel in a good place as they aim to build on their recent triumph.
“These are some quality girls, but sometimes we give our coaches a rough time. When it comes to training though, we train hard and we get the work done. These are some very dangerous girls and they are very talented, and I know that once they stay focused, they will defend this title next year,” Campbell said.
— Robert Bailey
