The 17TH Edition of the Youngster Goldsmith Classics was held on Saturday February 1, 2014 and saw athletes turning out to prove their athletic prowess on the field. This came after last week exciting edition of the Queens/ Grace Jackson Invitational meet.
The 17TH Edition of the Youngster Goldsmith Classics was held on Saturday February 1, 2014 and saw athletes turning out to prove their athletic prowess on the field. This came after last week exciting edition of the Queens/ Grace Jackson Invitational meet.
The heated competition began at eight thirty with several youngsters jostling to reach the finish line ahead of their rivals in the 400m hurdles, 400m and 1500m races. There was clear distinction between who were hungry for the win and who merely wanted to get to the finish line.
The teams that stood out in the races which required much endurance were teams like Vere Technical with stellar athletes like Brittany Dixon tearing away from the field to burst across the finish line with a 100m win in the girls Class 2 1500m. Other schools which also displayed agility on the field was the light blues from Clarendon (Edwin Allen), the Monk Street athletes from (St.Jago), St. Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) and Holmwood Technical.
Some athletes were disappointed when the pole vault event was cancelled due to a lack of equipment. Others were melancholy because their team did not endure long enough to make to the finish line or fell short of pushing above the high jump mark or over the long jump mark.
Among those teams Kingston College (KC) was found to be lagging behind. But KC was not to be outdone as they quickly picked up speed with athletes like Robert Thomas in the 400m boys class 1 leaving the field scattered behind him and the 4 by 800 boys OPEN relay team who left Excelsior and Munro staggering far behind for a superb win.
Also Akeem Bloomfield and Jhevaughn Matheron in the boys 100m class 2 both clocked 10.64secs set to make record time in this year’s championship.
Above all, the lions from Calabar were well represented in the stadium and they brought the heat at this year’s Youngster Goldsmith classics.
The defending champions of the Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championship often left rivals like KC and Jamaica College (JC) wandering on the field, struggling to find their way to the finish line.
One of the most exciting race of the day came from the boys 400m class 1 when Javon Francis from Calabar stopped the clock at 45.95secs leaving the field in disarray.
Also in the competition was GC foster College, the University of Technology (UTECH) and the University of the West Indies (UWI). These teams participated in the Open races but, Utech copped most of the 1st place positions with ease proving their dominance and mastery of the field.
Some of the most improved teams at this year’s Youngster Goldsmith Classics were St Elizabeth Technical, Petersfield, Manchester, Hydel and Immaculate.
At the end of the day it was clear that KC and JC faced many hurdles on the field. This performance fuels comments from critics who believe that KC and JC may not have what it takes to bolt pass Calabar in this year’s school boys Championships.
Still in the rear view mirror and fast approaching is St.Jago who is the team to watch closely in Champs 2014 as their team appears to be poised for success this season.
Writer: Andrew Laidley
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