Portland dethrone St Andrew at JTA/Sagicor Champs

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The Portland contingent turned in a sterling performance on the final day of the 28th staging of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA)/Sagicor National Primary, All-Age and Junior High Schools Athletics Championship, which was held over two days at the National Stadium, to claim their second hold on the coveted crown.

Portland amassed 374 points to dethrone two-time defending champions, St Andrew, which finished second on 365. The top five was rounded off by Kingston (202), St Elizabeth (197) and St Catherine (169).

Herman Reid, head coach and sports coordinator for Portland, was overjoyed with his parish's success.

"I am just overwhelmed and emotional, and I want to give thanks to God who gave us the will to do it," Herman expressed.

"We dominated right through as we had a more rounded team. St Andrew always dominated in the high jump and this year we got some valuable points in the high jump and that made the difference," he added.

Impressive performer

Tiffany Higgins was the most impressive performer for Portland on the day, as she won both the 200m and 400m girls' under-15 events to finish as the champion girl for her age group. She clocked 26.70 to claim the 200 and 59.63 for the 400m crown.

Her teammate, Joline Fable, finished second in the 200m in 27.26 seconds, while Tizadie Johnson secured bronze in 27.44.

Portland's Odenae McKenzie captured silver in the 400m in 1:00.82, with Johnson (1:01.05) notching her second bronze.

Odane Watt of St Andrew also captured the double in the boys' 200m and 400m, to emerge the under-15 male champion boy. He took the 200m in a smart 23.87 seconds.

Kingston's Mikine McGaw, 24.80, and St Mary's Orayne Williams, 24.82, finished second and third, respectively.

Watt was even more impressive in the 400m, winning in a record 52.33 to eclipse the old mark of 53.28 set by Rohan Walker in 2009. Rojay Granston of St Elizabeth captured silver in 54.18, with Portland's Romario Ferron, 54.38, accounting for the bronze.

Marquee event

Jesse Dewar of Kingston comfortably took the male edition of the marquee event of track and field, the under-17 boys' 100m. Dewar stopped the clock at 11.68 seconds to finish ahead of St Andrew's Leroy Gabbidon (12 seconds flat). The bronze medal went to Ackeme Rae, 12.05, of Portland.

Outstanding St Andrew athlete, Brittany Mathews, destroyed the field to capture the under-17 girls' 100m as she romped to victory in 12.95 seconds. Second went to Abigail Salmon of St Elizabeth in 13.31, with St Andrew's Martina Salmon, 13.38, claiming third.

Mathews, who finished as the overall champion girl, completed the sprint double as she won the under-17 girls' 200m in 26.24 seconds ahead of her teammate, Martina Harris (27.22). The bronze medal was won by Portland's Shamoy Hinds in 27.36 seconds.

Dewar failed in his bid to wrap up the double, as he was beaten into second in the under-17 boys' 200m by St Andrew's Shacquille McKay. McKay stopped the clock at 23.66 seconds while Dewar clocked 23.98 seconds. The bronze went to Gabbidon in 24.04 seconds.

McKay, who was crowned under-17 champion boy, secured his second gold medal in the under-17 boys' 400m, taking the event in 51.49 seconds. Dilon Audwell, also of St Andrew, took second in 52.58 ahead of Portland's Shane Bishop (53.26).

The under-17 girls' one-lap event was won by St Andrew's Cameka Witter in 59.01 seconds. St Andrew's Ayesha Champagnie, 1:01.18, and Chantelle Downer, 1:02.46, finished second and third, respectively.