GC FOSTER COLLEGE REGAINS INTERCOLLEGIATE TRACK AND FIELD TITLES

Photo: Top female performer at the NCB Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships – Danielle James of champions GC Foster College

GC Foster College regained the NCB Intercollegiate Track and Field titles they lost in 2015 with a dominant wire to wire performance over the two days of championships that culminated on Saturday at the National Stadium. The champions reclaimed both titles from arch rivals, the University of Technology.

They were led by the top performance of the meet from national representative, Demish Gaye, who clocked a new record of 45.57 seconds to claim the 400m title. The old record of 45.93 was set by UTech’s Rusheen McDonald in 2014. Finishing in second spot was University of Technology’s (UTech) Twayne Crooks, 47.00 seconds ahead of Alvin Green of G.C. Foster College in 47.22 seconds.

UTech gained the top spot in the women’s equivalent through a fantastic run by 400m hurdles champion Janieve Russell. She won her second gold medal of the championships with a new personal best 51.17 seconds. Mico University College’s Tiffany James clocked 52.30 for second, and G.C. Foster’s Verone Chambers, crossed the line for third in 52.55 seconds.

World championship bronze medalist over 400m, Shericka Jackson (UTech) continued the winning trend for her team and prevented a GC Foster clean sweep of the short sprints, by winning the 200m final in 22.98 seconds. She was trailed home by teammate Shimarya Williams (23.33) and 100m champion Jura Levy of G.C. Foster College had to settle for third in 23.48 seconds.

There was no denying the double for the 100m male champion as GC Foster College’s Oshane Bailey returned to win the 200m in 20.72 seconds. UTech’s Kevean Smith was a close second with 20.77 seconds, with GC Foster’s Everton Clarke third in 20.82 seconds. Intercol debutant and former junior star Michael O’Hara of UWI was only able to hang on for fourth spot in 21.19 seconds.

In a battle of the competing “James”, Mico University College’s Samantha James won her second title of the championship, securing the 1500m in 4:43.63 seconds, relegating GC Foster’s Danielle James to second in 4:48.40 seconds and Roshae Burrell, G.C. Foster finishing third in 4:50.34 6 seconds.

Alex Hutton of The Mico University College produced a late burst over the last thirty meters to win the men’s event on the line in 4:06.28 seconds, ahead of G.C. Foster Webster Chung 4:06.39 seconds and UWI Mona Delano Rochester 4:06.72 seconds.

The Women’s 100m hurdles went to Megan Simmonds (UTech)13.47 seconds ahead of teammate Shimayra Williams, 13.89 seconds and third going to GC Foster Natasha Russell 14.41 seconds. Simmonds was winning the hurdles title for the fourth straight time in her collegiate career.

Rohan Cole sealed the male equivalent for Utech in 14.10 seconds ahead of David Hall, G.C. Foster 15.02 seconds and UWI Mona Jariel Cherrington 15.27 seconds. The Carifta champion led from start to finish in a dominant display of sprint hurdling.

Top female performer Danielle James eventually got her Gold medal after she dominated and won the Women’s 3000m in 11:09.18 seconds. Second spot went to her teammate Conangela Senior 11:34.35 seconds and Church Teachers College’s Juliet Dinal 12:26.78 seconds.

The Top male performer of the meet also of G.C. Foster, Oshane Archibald ran 15:31.75 seconds to defend his 5000m title. He led home a GC Foster quenelle with Larone Haye 16:09.65 seconds holding off The Mico University College’s Dino Rochester 16:11.57 seconds.

The Sprint Medal relays for females and males went to UTech (1:40.58 seconds) and GC Foster College (3:23.58 seconds) respectively.

The UTech team, with a splendid anchor by Jackson, sped to a championship record of 43.43 seconds on route to claiming the Women’s 4×100 sprint relay final. GC Foster College 43.57 seconds and UWI 46.63 seconds finished in the minor spots.

GC Foster College also claimed the Men’s 4x100m final in 39.42 seconds, ahead of UTech 39.58s and The Mico University 41.03s.

UTech wrapped up the sweep of the women’s relays with the win in the 4×400 finals crossing the line 3:38.43, ahead of UWI 3:44.15 seconds and GC Foster College 3:44.99 seconds.

GC Foster College won the final event of the championship, the men’s 4x400m in 3:06.83 seconds, ahead of UTech 3:08.17 and UWI 3:08.25 seconds.

Genneva Greaves, Utech 14.40m and Traves Smikle, UWI 61.26m won the Women’s Shot Put and Men’s Discus final respectively.

UTech Jessica Noble leapt 12.10m to win the Women’s Triple Jump. GC Foster Aubrey Allen defended his title in the Men’s long Jump with an effort of 7.60m.

National Javelin record holder Orrin Powell of G.C. Foster threw 65.96m to win that event.

At the end of the 18 events for both genders, the top three in the Women’s ranking were,first – GC Foster College (202), second – University of Technology (185) and third – UWI (133). On the Men’s side it was the same three teams, GC Foster College (232), University of Technology (152) and UWI Mona (147).