‘No excuses’

DESPITE THE glaring absence of a chevron track to practice on, schools from western Jamaican still gave as good as they got at the recently completed ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

Four schools from the county of Cornwall finished in the top 12 at Champs this year. One of those athletes says while preparations had been made more difficult without a track to train on, determination overcame the obstacles.

“It was a hundred times harder training on grass. However, I think it’s all about the mental part of it when training. What I will say is that if you really want it, you’ll have no excuses; and just do it,” said 16-year-old Thywaine Sterling from William Knibb Memorial High School.

Sterling, a first-time participatant at Champs, won both the 800 and 1500 metres in Class Two. He clocked 1:54.88 in the 800 metres and 4:06.24 in the 1500 metres.

When asked about how he feels about winning two medals, the budding middle-distance athlete said he was elated.

“It’s a good feeling because I went into the championship with a vision. I think that if you can see it in your mind, then it will be there in reality,” Sterling told The Gleaner.

Since 2018, the Montego Bay Sports Complex has not been used for track and field and it has had a negative effect on the region’s athletes, with many having to travel long distances for major meets.

Another motivation for Sterling came from the disappointment of a teammate.

“Jabari Matheson was competing in the 400 metres Class One. He had the fastest time going into the finals but had picked up a foot injury, so he ended up missing the finals. I told him I would win it for him because I believed he would’ve won the 400 metres,” said Sterling.

Sterling’s Class One teammate, Sanjay Seymore, won gold in the 200 metres.

Seymore ran in honour of his late father and clocked 21.27 seconds. He is the second athlete to do so from the school after sprint legend Usain Bolt.

Seymore made headlines for displaying a message in honour of his late father.

Muschett High School was also in the thick of things again, with Class Two standout Shanoya Douglas mining double gold for the second year running.

“My coach, the determined person he is, pushed us past our limits. He leaves nothing unturned, as he prepares us for any situation. Therefore, I took the positives and moved with it, it is called hard work,” said Douglas, who clocked 23.30 seconds to claim the 200 metres, and 11.32 in the 100.

Last year at Champs, Douglas was the first female to win a gold medal for Muschett. She won both the 200 metres and 400 metres. Defending her 200 metres and winning the 100 metres, she feels proud of her performances at Champs.

“I felt great,” Douglas expressed.

“My mindset was to execute, focus, and do my job - that was, to win —- which I did. I am elated and excited to win my first 100-metre gold medal at ISSA Boys and Girls’ Championships,” she added.

Western Jamaica was also blessed with gold medallists in the Class Two 200 metres through Usain Bernard from Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, who stopped the clock in 21.82 seconds. Javontae Smith, from Munro College, won the Class Two boys’ shot put with 18.81 metres.

Sabrina Dockery, from Lacovia High, clocked a nippy 11.08 to take the 100m Class One girls’ 100 metres, while Tauntyae Sherman, from St. Elizabeth Technical High School, threw the discus the furthest among Class Three girls (38.25 metres).

Silver and bronze medals came from Mount Alvernia High School, Herbert Morrison Technical High School, Cornwall College, and B.B. Coke High.