Photo: Travis Williams and Tamara Thomas of Gaynstead High School
Gaynstead is a little known high school located a stone’s throw away from the National Stadium in Kingston Jamaica. The school is set to compete in the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships from Tuesday March 25-28th, but they have never scored a single point at the event in all their years of competing.
Photo: Travis Williams and Tamara Thomas of Gaynstead High School
Gaynstead is a little known high school located a stone’s throw away from the National Stadium in Kingston Jamaica. The school is set to compete in the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships from Tuesday March 25-28th, but they have never scored a single point at the event in all their years of competing.
The whole school fraternity is looking for that to change this year with their explosive duo of Travis Williams and Tamara Thomas. Anticipation is high amongst the school population, that this will be the year that Gaystead finally makes their mark at Jamaica’s premier track and field event for school children.
Williams got the attention of a number of people when he finished third in three events at the inaugural staging of the Corporate Area Development Meet at the National Stadium recently. The class three athlete finished third in the 400m, 200m and 100m while competing against some of the best athletes in his age group in the country. This has left him and his coach quite happy about the prospects for champs.
Speaking with Yardie Sports about his performance at the meet the promising young athlete said, “I can’t explain it. It feels great to get the results I did. I actually expected more from the meet which was a great learning experience for me.
“I didn’t follow my coaches instructions in the 200m or the 400m but if I had I would have done better in terms of time and placing in both races. So definitely I will listen next time,” he said with a smile.
Regarding his expectations for champs, Williams said, “My goal for champs is to earn a medal for my school in the 200m and the 400m. I would be the first person to do so and I think that would make me a hero here,” he said with a wide grin.
His coach Noel White who has coached the likes of Maurice Smith, Jason Morgan and Gregory Haughton also has high hopes for the youngster.
“I gave him three events at the meet to get him ready for the rounds at champs. He wasn’t at full tilt despite his performance so we are expecting more from him at Champs. He likes the 100m like most kids his age because it’s the glamour event and it is short. Based on his running style with his long loping strides the 200m and 400m suit him better.
“A number of coaches have said to me that he is one to watch and that I should be careful because a number of prominent high schools are eyeing him and will want to steal my thunder,” White continued.
Tamara Thomas who will also be doing the 200m-400m double at Champs is the other jewel in the Gaynstead crown expected to cause a stir.
The small framed young lady is soft spoken but has a big heart and is aware of the burden on her young shoulders. Like Williams, Thomas was pleased with her performance at the Corporate Area Development Meet but feels there is more left to come.
“It was great, but I could have done better in both races. I should have kept my form on the back stretch in the 400m and I should have gotten out of the blocks faster in both races.”
Her aims for champs are right in line with that of her schoolmate. “I am hoping to make the finals in both events at Champs and hopefully I can medal in at least one of them. It would be great to be the first girl to medal for the school at Champs but it would still be a big achievement to be the first to score points there.”
Pastor Derrick Brown who volunteers at the school and has helped to develop the track and field programme explained his involvement at Gaynstead, “We are in the third year of a growing program but we are looking to at least score some points this year at Champs. The challenge with being a small school is that good athletes pass for the school but transfer immediately.
“We are hoping that if we can start making our mark, that will stop and more people will come to the school so we can continue to grow. Funding is a real challenge for a small school like this but we have to thank Wolmers’ for the support they have given to us over the years.
A beaming principal, Mrs. Barbara Johnson said, “We are proud of both of them. We are trying to get on the map and hopefully they will score some points for us this year. Pastor Brown has come on board to manage our sports programme and it is all voluntary. He gets the coaches and sources other help. Hopefully this year Gaynstead will be among the top 32 schools at Champs.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a sixth form programme so when the athletes are at their peak they move on to some other school,” she lamented.
Despite the challenges the school faces, Gayntead, which is less than two minutes away from the stadium by car, expects to leave quite an impression at Champs 2014.
Yardie Sports at Champs 2014 is brought to you by ENSURE
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