Johan-Remaldo Smythe ready to put Holland High on the map
Johan-Ramaldo Smythe showed that he is ready for all comers this season by smashing the Class One 100m record at the Purewater/RDanny Williams/JC Development Meet on Saturday, stopping the clock at 10.47 (+0.5 mps).
Smythe, who followed his father and coach Garth Smythe in switching from Muschett High to Holland High, started his season at his new school with a bang.
On Friday, Smythe won his Class One 200m heat in a jaw-dropping 21.10 (-0.3mps), well clear of the second-best person, who was Ian Barker of St Catherine High who won his heat in 21.54.
Raheen Collins of St George’s College was third overall, clocking 21.99 as only three people dipped below the 22-second barrier.
Smythe failed to make the Class One final at Champs last year, finishing third in his semi-final in 21.27. But, given his fast season opener, expectations are high that come April at Champs he will be running even faster to pose a serious challenge.
That was evident as he followed up on Saturday with a record 10.47 clocking to win the Class One 100m. Last year, he was sixth in the Champs final, stopping the clock at 10.57.
Holland High are not known for track and field and have never competed at Champs, but Smythe will certainly rewrite their history as he is expected to get them on the points table along with World Under-20 200m bronze medallist Shanoya Douglas, who also made the switch to Holland from Muschett.
