Vashon McCarthy leaves the “burning” of Ascot, looks to “flourish” at JC

Photo: Vashon McCarthy in the “True Blue”

In the 2013 edition of the annual Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Boys and Girls Championship Vashon McCarthy brought glory his former school, Ascot High in winning the Boys Class 2 Shot Put title, becoming the first ever champs gold medalist in the event. The 2014 edition was never to be a repeat of such a feat, after the news broke that McCarthy was being barred from competing at the event by his school’s principal due to involvement with an external coach.

This argument later transcended into another story, the student athlete was deemed ineligible to participate at the event due to failure in fulfilling the ISSA academic requirements. ISSA currently requires its sports student to be able to average 45% in four subject areas, to guarantee participation in ISSA run sports events.

Fast forwarding to the start of 2014-2015 academic school year and upcoming track season. the Carifta medalist and Youth Olympic representative has parted ways with the Purple’s of St.Catherine, opting for the “Dark blues” of Old Hope Road, Jamaica College.

McCarthy will miss a second consecutive “Champs” as under the current ISSA rules governing eligibly of student athletes to participate for their school – transferred athletes have to sit out a year of competition before they are afforded the chance to represent their new school. Sixth form programs are exempted from this rule. This means he will be missing in action at the 2015 edition of Boys and Girls Championships.

Like the Jamaica College Motto “Floreat collegium, fervet opus in campis”. translated as “May the college flourish, work is burning in the field”, it is the hope of all lovers of Jamaica track and field that McCarthy flourishes in his remaining junior career.