Victoria House (Red) won nearly all of the major titles en route to ending a 12-year drought at The St Michael School’s Inter-House Track and Field Championships yesterday at the National Stadium.
In claiming only their second title in the 44-year history of the meet, and the first since 1999, Victoria amassed 1053.5 points in a completely dominating display. They also won the track cup and the field cup; had three of the division champions as well as the most outstanding male athlete in Levi Cadogan.
Boadicea (Blue) were second with 791.5 points, defending champions Anne House (Yellow) were third with 787.5 and Elizabeth (Purple) brought up the rear with 700.5.
Cadogan’s day
The most outstanding athlete is based on the caliber of performances, not the number, and Cadogan, who competed in the Under-17 division, won the 100 metres in 11.66 seconds, the 200 in 23.42 seconds and the 400m in 54.55 seconds. He was also second in the javelin and fourth in the long jump.
The most outstanding female athlete was also the junior victrix ludorum. Holly-Ann Hunte of Elizabeth scored 61 points though some dominating performances in the field, most of which were completed prior to yesterday.
She can boast of breaking the only record in 2011, with a throw of 30.35 metres in the Under-15 girls’ javelin, raising the standard from the 29.32 set by Anne’s Jacinda Ifill. She also won the discus, shot put and high jump; was second in the long jump and 100 metres (13.67) behind Boadicea’s Ayanna Morgan (13.40) and fourth in the 200 (28.22) which was won by Victoria’s Danielle Scantlebury in 27.24 seconds.
Victoria’s success was aided by three athletes who came over from other schools. In the Under-17 girls’ division, Leah Barker (Deighton Griffith) and Shanice Howell (Ellerslie) were an unbeatable combination when added to Chazelle Cumberbatch; while Jason Moore, formerly of Coleridge and Parry, played his part in the Under-20 division.
One of the highlights of the day came in the Under-17 girls’ 4×100 metres where the baton dropped before Hope Jordan could get it to Cumberbatch. She didn’t appear to panic, simply picked it up and passed it. Cumberbatch blazed down the back stretch and narrow the substantial lead, passing off to Howell who made up even more ground. When Barker took the baton with less than five metres separating her from the field, it was as easy as 1-2-3.
However, there were too many dropped batons, totally uncharacteristic of this school.
Barker won the 100 in 12.53 seconds, beating an injured Akela Taylor of Elizabeth (12.66) and Howell (12.78). With Taylor unable to compete for the rest of the day, Howell won the 400 in 61.09; with Barker second in 1:07.09. Barker completed the double with 25.81 seconds in the 200, Howell again second in 26.27 and Cumberbatch third (27.38) for the Victoria sweep.
Moore won the Under-20 boys’ 100 (11.33), 200 (22.80) and 400 (54.64) from senior victor ludorum Jesse Haynes of Boadicea whose times were (11.41), 24.27 and 55.51 seconds, respectively.
Fine form
Another Coleridge and Parry import Gabiel Ellis won the Under-20 girls’ 400 metres in 63.14, with Anne’s Jaleesia Harper doing the sprint double in 13.30 and 25.91.
Joash Best of Anne House continues to thrill every year. With little competition, he won the Under-15 boys’ 100m in 12.23 seconds and the 200 in 25.04, with Hakeem Thompson of Elizabeth taking the quarter-milein 60.75 seconds. Division champion Princeharry Joseph of Victoria picked up his 41 points from consistent performances.
In the Under-13 division, Boadicea’s Dia Parris won the boys’ 200 in 30.26 and the 400 in 1:10.47, while on the day, Anne’s Chloe Millar of Anne was second in the 400 and third in the 200.
Shari Lashley of Boadicea won the Under-13 girls’ 100 in 14.86 seconds, also took the 200 and 400 in 30.06 seconds and 1:10.77, respectively.
Division Champions:
Under 13-Girls: Chloe Millar (Anne) 30 points Under-13 Boys: Dia Parris (Boadicea) 40
Under-15 Girls: Holly-Ann Hunte (Elizabeth) 61
Under-15 Boys: Princeharry Joseph (Victoria) 41
Under-17 Girls: Chazelle Cumberbatch (Victoria) 49
Under-17 Boys: Levi Cadogan (Victoria) 43Under-20 Girls: Alana Walcott (Elizabeth) 58
Under-20 Boys: Jesse Haynes (Boadicea) 55Junior victrix ludorum: Holly-Ann Hunte
Junior victor ludorum: Princeharry Joseph
Senior victrix ludorum: Alana Walcott
Senior victor ludorum: Jesse Haynes
Most outstanding female: Holly-Ann Hunte
Most outstanding male: Levi Cadogan
Final points
1. Victoria (Red) 1053.5 points,
2. Boadicea (Blue) 791.5,
3. Anne House (Yellow) 787.5,
4. Elizabeth (Purple) 700.5
Position last five years at BSSAC
Girls: 2006 – 155 points, 5th; 2007 – 128 points, 5th; 2008 – 184.5 points, 3rd; 2009 – 226 points, 2nd; 2010 – 191 points, 3rd
Boys: 2006 – 140 points, 6th; 2007 – 84 points, 12th; 2008 – 162.5 points, 5th; 2009 – 80.5 points, 10th; 2010 – 125 points, 6th
