Spotlight on Gibson McCook Relays

ALL is set for a day of great competition at today’s 48th staging of the Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium.

“Over 2,700 athletes, including a group from the Cayman Islands, will compete at today’s event, and we expect another successful staging once again,” Chairman of the Gibson McCook Relays Organising Committee, Marion Bullock-Ducasse, said yesterday.

The prestigious relays has always given fans a glimpse of the strength of the top schools in track events and today’s meet should be no different as there will be intense and explosive competition just four weeks ahead of the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).

This meet brings athletes from all high schools together for the final time before ‘Champs’, and fireworks are definitely expected.

When action gets under way at 9:30 a.m. with the preliminary rounds of the boys’ 4x400m relays, the stage will be set for some exciting battles as teams look to score psychological advantages ahead of Champs.

Earlier in the week at the Central Athletics Championships, Edwin Allen High girls gave a sneak preview of what’s to come today, dominating the sprint relays by winning three out of four events. Their only loss came in the Class One 4x100m relay, where they finished a close third behind winners Holmwood Technical and Hydel High. They will be gunning for perfection today, with a clean sweep possibly on the cards.

Holmwood have looked strong this season, showing glimpses of their former dominance. They also impressed at Central Championships, winning the 4x400m and 4x800m relays, particularly excelling in the latter.

Despite failing to win a relay event at Central Championships, Hydel’s girls should do well today as they usually reserve some of their best displays for the Gibson McCook Relays.

In the boys’ events a “dogfight” is expected among the top three teams vying for the Champs title – Kingston College, Jamaica College, and Calabar High. However, they won’t have it all their way, as Edwin Allen have looked extremely dangerous all season, particularly in Classes One and Two.

All eyes will be on Calabar’s Class One 4x100m relay quartet, led by Shaquane Gordon and Jamal Stephenson, as a sub-40-second clocking is in sight. At the Camperdown Classic, they posted a season-leading 40.09 seconds, and a mid-39-second time looks possible today. Jamaica College, St Elizabeth Technical, Herbert Morrison Technical, and Edwin Allen have all clocked sub-41 seconds this season and should push Calabar to something special.

Fans will also get a chance to see the much-talked-about St Jago Class Three boys in action. With their very talented group, they are expected to put on a big show in both the 4x100m and 4x200m events.

St Jago’s outstanding middle- and long-distance athlete, Kenyan Ryan Achua, has been dominant all season, particularly in the 5000 metres. Today, he will attack the 1500 metres, and his handlers are predicting something very special from him.

Some of the country’s top senior athletes will also be in action in the Invitational events. Both men and women will contest the 60 metres while the men will also compete in the 400m. Tia Clayton of MVP Track Club will lead the charge among the women, alongside her training partners Joniel Smith and Natasha Morrison. Jodean Williams of Sprin Tec, who surprised Shericka Jackson at the Queen’s Grace Jackson Meet, will also compete, along with her training partner Shashalee Forbes and Kemba Nelson of Elite Performance Track Club.

Tyquendo Tracy of Swept Track Club and Ramone Barnswell of Sprint Tec will headline the men’s 60 metres.

National record holder Rusheen McDonald of MVP will be among the men in the 400m, joined by Malik James-King of Titans, Roshawn Clarke of Swept, and Demish Gaye of Sprin Tec.

As usual, the top clubs will compete in the relays, with the men’s 4x100m taking centre stage. Oblique Seville will spearhead the Racers Track Club team, while Yohan and Ackeem Blake will represent Dynamics. Tracy and Emmanuel Archibald will run for Swept, and Barnswell will represent Sprint Tec.

There will also be field events today, including long jump and high jump for both men and women, as well as pole vault for men.