Caribbean Heritage

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MAY 17 - MAY 23, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 41 - JUNE 16, 2021 SPORTS Daniel Wheeler and Robert Bailey/Gleaner Writers J AMAICA COLLEGE (JC) produced a gritty last-day performance to capture the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday, May 15. JC finished with 328.5 points to bring the Mortimer Geddes Trophy back to Old Hope Road for the first time since 2011. Dethroned champions Kingston College (KC) who lead by 7.5 points heading into the final day finished second with 313 points. Calabar High were third with 241.5 points. Edwin Allen secured their seventh consecutive title and eighth overall with a final tally of 340 points. St Jago High School improved on their fourth place in 2019 to finish second with 309.5 points. Hydel High who finished runners-up in 2019 placed third with 301.5 points. JC head coach Neil Harrison could not hide his joy after the win and was pleased that the team accepted the challenge that KC presented to them. “We expected the rivalry from KC,” Harrison told The Gleaner. “They live by their motto ‘The brave may fall but never yield,’ so we know the kind of character they have. So, I prepared the boys for it and the rest is history.” Edwin Allen head coach Michael Dyke said that the obstacles faced by the team this year made this success worthwhile. “This was challenging for many rea- sons – injuries, the protocol, finances – but overall, we are happy to know that despite all of those challenges we over- came them and we were able to once again be the champions,” Dyke said. CHAMPS RECORD Javier Brown got JC off to an im- pressive start on the day, winning the class one 400m title in 45.75s. Calabar High School’s Jeremy Bembridge was second in 45.94s while Tahj Hamm of Holmwood Technical finished third in 46.22s. Calabar High School’s Mark Manley won the Class Two Boys 200m in 21.46s, JC, Edwin Allen take Champs! Andrene Peart from Holmhood Technical winning the Class 3 girls 1500 meters timed at 4.50.36. IAN ALLEN Team captains J’Voughnn Blake (left) of Jamaica College, and Ackelia Smith (right) of Edwin Allen hold their trophies aloft after victories in the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, May 15. GraceKennedy Chief Executive Officer Don Wehby is also pictured sharing in their celebration. KENYON HEMANS PHOTO PLEASE SEE CHAMPS, 42 Boys final standings 1. JC 328.5 2. KC 313 3. Calabar 241.5 4. STETHS 181 5. St Jago 129 6. Edwin Allen 76 7. Wolmer’s 68.5 8. Excelsior 58 9. Vere 23 10. Maggotty 21 Girls final standings 1. Edwin Allen 340 2. St Jago 309.5 3. Hydel 301.5 4. Holmwood 160.5 5. Vere 128 6. St Catherine 75 7. Rusea’s 70 8. Wolmer’s 57 9. Excelsior 42.5 10. Clarendon College 40