If at first you don’t succeed try, try, again. That was exactly what Gooding House (Green) did to superbly capture The Lodge School’s Inter-House title for the first time in nearly 30 years at Society,St John, yesterday.
Gooding last won the title in 1991 on a day that Dr Dennis Blackman was honoured.
Putting Gooding in the driver’s seat was senior victor ludorum Dejaun Walcott as he controlled the Under-17 Boys’ Division to secure his house final points tally of 1 041.5 points.
This shocking house results sent the statisticians back to the history books to see when last Gooding lifted the title, a search that revealed close to three decades. Walcott notched wins in the 100 metres in 11:18 secs, the 200 in 23:88, long jump and triple jumps and gained second for his javelin throw.
There were several riveting performances that indicate The Lodge School is ready to rumble in BSSAC. Pinnacle place on the team must go to Tramaine Smith of Gooding who won the Under-20 Boys’ 100 metres in 10.53 from Laborde’s Jamali Lynch and Brian Wood of Emtage.
Next race in this division produced a stunning result when Smith, the defending 400 metres champion, trailed home last behind last year’s third-place finisher Wood, who took the gold in a measured 51.13 secs.
Never wake a sleeping lion. That’s just what the loss did to Smith as he returned and blistered the 200-metre field that included Wood. He showed tremendous acceleration approaching the 150 mark, from which he proceeded to smash Kenton Browne’s year-long record of 22.25 seconds. The day’s only track record now impressively stands at 22.04 secs against a slight head breeze. Lynch and Wood had to settle for second and third-place (23:16 and 23:58), respectively.
Runners-up Emtage (Purple) have plenty to celebrate as Joshua Dottin won the victor ludorum honours for junior boys while Chara Grimes-Perch ran off with the senor girls’ victrix ludorum.
Competing in the Boys’ Under-13 Division, Dottin’s points were accumulated through victories in the 200 metres (27:09), the 400 metres (1:04.9) and the 1 500 metres, along with runner-up efforts in the 100, 800 and long jump.
Grimes-Perch won the Under 20 Girls’ 400 metres in 1:06.38, the long jump and shot put. She also placed second in the 100 metres, 200 metres and discuss. The junior victrix ludorum went to Wedderburn’s Dania Haynes, who delighted supporters with her efforts in the 100 metres (12:67) and the 200 metres (27:81). She also came second in the Girls’ Under-15 long jump.
Kyanna Collymore of Codrington House (Yellow) and Azariah Nurse of Laborde (Red) must be closely monitored as they were simply spectacular in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. They were unbeaten in the Girls Under-13 and Under-17 divisions respectively. (LY)