Raymond Graham, Sunday Gleaner Writer
DEFENDING champions, University of Technology (UTech) men and G.C. Foster College's women, retained their titles in contrasting styles as the VMBS-sponsored Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships ended at the UWI Usain Bolt Track yesterday.
It was a runaway win for G.C. Foster's women while it took the final event to decide the men's title.
In the female section, G.C. Foster tallied a whopping 232 points for their second title in a row. They were followed by UTech 135, Mico University College 127, UWI 80 and College of Agriculture Science and Technology (CASE), 37.
It was a three-way battle for the men's title but defending champions UTech prevailed despite a spirited effort from UWI. UTech tallied 194 points with G.C. Foster College second on 183. The top five was completed by UWI 179, Mico University College 41 and CASE 26.
World University Games medallists, Carrie Russell from UTech and UWI's Jason Young took the sprint double. They followed up their 100m wins on Friday with victories in the 200 metres yesterday.
Russell won the women's 200m easily in 23.86 seconds with her teammate Cardene Copeland second in 24.28 and G.C. Foster's Yanique Ellington, third in 24.56.
Young also had an easy win in the men's 200m. The World University Games silver medallist clocked 21.05 to get the better of UTech's Nicholas Watson (21.34) and G.C. Foster's Jermaine Hylton, 21.60.
UWI's Hansel Parchment who won gold in China in the men's 110m hurdles continued his good build up to the National Championships winning the event in 14.10 seconds. His teammate, Deuce Carter, who won the first section of the time final was second overall in 14.34 with UTech's Simon Dickens, third in 15.00.
In the women's 100m hurdles final, G.C. Foster's Junielle Baker turned the tables on Mico's Rushell Clayton who defeated her in the 400 metres hurdles. Baker won in 14.82 seconds as Clayton (15.00) took the silver. The bronze medal went to Mico's Trudyann Richards who was third in 16.18.
Dominant
In other individual finals on the track, G.C. Foster athletes dominated. It was one-two for them in the women's 1500m as Roxine Salmon won in 4:51.42 ahead of teammate, Chante Roberts (4:53.54) with UTech's Willomena Williams finishing third in 4:56.51.
G.C. Foster's André Headley won the men's 1500m in 4:01.11 getting the better of UTech's Darryll Oliver (4:03.66) and G.C. Foster's Otaine Bailey who was third in 4:05.39.
Samantha Curtis gave the Spanish Town-based institution another win as she captured the women's 400m in 54.64 seconds. UTech's Arusha McKenzie (55.65) and G.C. Foster's Rhonda White (56.76) finished second and third, respectively.
The men's 400m went to UWI's Nicholas Maitland in 46.07 with UTech's Rusheen McDonald (46.54) and GC Foster's Michael Mason (46.70) taking second and third, respectively.