Seville eyes podium at next World Champs
Hydel, KC the best sprinters at Gibson McCook Relays
Published:Sunday | February 26, 2023 | 1:48 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
IN HIS third season at the professional level, Oblique Seville has one thing on his mind, a place on the medal podium of a major global championship.
In a close battle to the finish, Seville was edged out by Ackeem Blake at the 50th anniversary of the Gibson McCook Relays last night inside the National Stadium. Both crossed the line in 6.42 seconds but Blake (.414) had a faster reaction time than Seville (.419). Zharnel Hughes was third in 6.45. Blake’s time was a personal best in the distance, eclipsing the 6.61 he clocked in February 2022.
After placing fourth in his first World Athletics Championships 100m final last year, and with an assessment from coach Glen Mills that he is poised to make significant improvements this year, Seville is keeping a level head about this year.
“I am coached by one of the greatest in the world, so anything is possible,” Seville said.
“I want to improve on last year, which is to get on the medal podium.”
While not pleased with his performance in the heats, he was satisfied that he managed to get things together in the final.
“I had two main goals just to execute to the best of my ability and remain injury-free. My start was a bit messy at the beginning of the heats but I got it done in the finals,” Seville said. “These guys are some good competitors, Ackeem, Yohan, Zharnel and it was all about who was better on the day.
Seville did not make any predictions on how fast he wanted to run, but was more focused on his improvement as he looks for the medal breakthrough.
“I am just taking things gradually. I am just trying to do better each time that I compete,” Seville said.
MVP’s Tina Clayton took the women’s 60-metre title, clocking a wind-assisted time of 7.02 with Sprintec’s Sashalee Forbes finishing second in 7.03.
Forbes’ Sprintec teammate Remona Burchell was third in 7.04.
IMPROPER MEASUREMENT
The format for the women’s 60m had to be adjusted as the first heat that was contested earlier in the day was not properly measured at 60 metres but at 70. After a discussion among the meet organisers, the first heat was run over as a final with the top eight runners from the last two first-round heats also run as a final with the eight fastest runners being allocated the championship purse. Clayton earned US$10,000 for the victory, as well as Blake, the winner of the men’s equivalent.
Meanwhile, at press time, ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships titleholder, Kingston College (KC), won two of the four 4x100-metre relays.
KC won the Class-One event in 40.14 seconds with Jamaica College, second in 40.36, while Camperdown High School were third in 40.37.
The ‘Purples’ also tasted victory in Class Three, winning in 43.39, while Calabar High were second in 43.41, and St Jago were third in 43.76.
Calabar won Class Two in 41.31, while Jamaica College were second in 41.49, and St Elizabeth Technical High School, third in 41.73. Class Four was won by Jamaica College in 45.46, while St Jago High were second in 45.61, and Calabar were third in 46.31.
Hydel High School scored two victories from the four girls’ 4x100-metre finals, while it was a rough outing for Edwin Allen, who failed to register one.
Hydel took the Class One crown in 44.25, edging out Edwin Allen, who clocked 44.91 for second. Holmwood Technical were third in 46.19.
Hydel also took the Class Four crown in 48.86 while Holmwood were second in 48.87 and Edwin Allen, third in 49.90.
St Jago won Class Two in 46.04, again with Edwin Allen second in 46.25, and St Mary High, third in 46.87.
Class Three was won by Wolmer’s Girls’ School, the Heroes Circle team clocking 46.09, ahead of Edwin Allen, second in 47.12. Hydel were third in 47.46.