St George's College seeking redemption

Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, USA:It's impossible for Jamaicans to imagine any track meet featuring high school athletes bigger than the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association's (ISSA) Boys and Girls' Championships.

But for the athletes on St George's College's 4x100 team, who made it to today's final at the 117th Penn Relays at Franklin Field here, the event will be the pinnacle of their season after the school was barred from Champs 2011 for failing to register on time. The light blue brigade aims to make it count.

"This is what we're banking on, Penn Relays," said Kemarki Absalom after anchoring the team to victory in the heats yesterday to qualify for the prestigious high school boys Championship of America race. "We're going to do our best."

Missed champs

Athletes from St George's and eight other schools, including Innswood, Norman Manley, Annotto Bay, Tarrant, Frome, Anchovy, Morant Bay and Garvey Maceo were not allowed to showcase their quality at Champs earlier this month. St George's were among the favourites to win the Class One 4x100 there, after finishing second in the event at the Gibson Relays in mid-March. But the team never got the chance.

"It just never happened," said Nicholas Griffiths, who ran lead-off yesterday.

According to team members, the barring of St George's "hurt emotionally," especially the older athletes, such as Absalom, for whom 2011 was their last year, and the youngest ones looking for their first chance to shine. The larger student body and alumni everywhere hurt too. However, team members said they received solid, all-round support, including counselling.

Yesterday's quartet said they also discussed the issue repeatedly amongst themselves, which helped them turn the disappointment into a positive. For them, Penns is their shot at redemption.

"I tell myself that 'well, we are not giving up'," explained third-leg runner Trimaine Barnett. "The Penn Relays were coming up and the Penn Relays is supposed to be our Champs this year."

St George's time of 41.63 seconds in the heats does not make them the favourites in today's final. That honour goes to Munro College, who were absent from Gibson Relays, but won at Champs in 39.92 seconds and clocked 40.95 yesterday, the fastest time so far. But for the boys from North Street the chance to show what they can do is reward enough.

"In life you have to overcome obstacles and (not being at Champs) is one of them," said Jermaine Fyffe, who ran the second leg yesterday. "Yeah, that's one of the main reasons why we are here."