Vere Tech athletes dominate at home

Raymond Graham, Sunday Gleaner Writer

HAYES, Clarendon:

AFTER their dominating perfor mances at the Camperdown Classics last weekend, it was another impressive day for Vere Technical at home yesterday.

Competing at the first staging of the Ben Francis Invitational track and field meet, Vere captured most of the events at the meet they hosted.

The Rhansomn Edwards-coached team made their intentions clear from the opening event as they registered a quinella in the Open 400 metres hurdles, as Olivia James (1:01.83) won ahead of teammate Clayton Russell (1:03.64), who also won her heat with. Edwin Allen High's Terrian Williams finishing third in 1:04.63.

World junior representative, Shericka Jackson, continued to mince her opponents in Class Two as she recorded the fastest time of the day among female athletes in the 200 metres, 24.43 seconds. Her teammate, Satima Chambers, was second overall with 25.83.

Vere athletes also captured Classes One and Three in the 200-metre events. In Class One, Shauna Cousins (26.36) won ahead of teammate Shauna Franklin 26.47. Yanique Hibbert's 25.71 was the best in Class Three, where Clarendon College's Shimayra Williams (25.92) emerged second.

Outstanding running

Vere's Class One sprinter Deandra Whitehorne (56.58) and her Class Three teammate, Yanique McNeil (56.29) topped the 400s with outstanding running.

Chantal Duncan looks set to capture the first running of the girl's 2000 metres steeplechase at champs this year, as she picked up her second consecutive win of the season in 7:21.82. Nekeisha Mitchell of Manchester High clocked 8:18.92 for the runners-up spot.

The Vere Technical strength was also evident on the field as Marsielle McBean and Chenell Palmer both cleared the bar at 1.75 metres to win the respective Class One and Two high jump events.

Among the boys, Holmwood Technical's Sherdaine Johnson captured the 2000m steeplechase Open in 6:37.35, beating Manchester High's Jahnoy Bond (6:37.44).

Vere Technical's Andre Clarke (55.70) won the Open 400m ahead of Camperdown High's Shavon Barnes (56.25).