Sending a signal of things to come, Mario Burke broke Obadele Thompson’s 20-year record in the 100 metres, one of five marks which fell at the Harrison College Inter-House Track and Field Championships.
Burke clocked 10.7 seconds (hand-timed) during the semi-finals, erasing Thompson’s 10.8 which stood since 1993. With no one to challenge him, he went on to win yesterday’s final on the school ground in 10.8 seconds. He also won the 400m in 54.27 and wrapped up with 22.87 in the 200m.
Burke was one of several athletes who spurred Dalton to their seventh straight title with 1 617 points.
Armstrong gave a valiant effort, but still fell short with 1 518. Deighton finally moved from the bottom with 1 105 points, while Collymore brought up the rear with 1 095 points.
Dalton’s Julian Forde may be the next big sprinter from the school as he broke Burke’s Division 5 mark of 12.5 in the 100m, clocking 12.23 in the heats.
Shorter, but so much faster than the others in his division, he won yesterday’s final in 12.66 seconds, a full second ahead of division champion Nathan Thornhill of Collymore.
Forde completed the double by winning the 200m in 27.67, while Thornhill took the 400m in 1:04.22 and also won the 800m and 1 500m.
Shining in Division 5 was Deighton’s Charissa Moore who broke three records en route to the junior victrix ludorum title. Earlier, Moore leaped 4.27m in the long jump and won the 100m in 13.18 seconds, down from 13.23.
She broke the record twice in the 400m, lowering Najuma Comissiong’s ten-year mark from 1:07.8 to 1:07.31 and then raced to 1:05.83 in the final. She also won the 200m in 29.22 to add to wins in the 800m, 1 500m and 3 000m.
In his final year, Armstrong’s Jerrad Mason took the senior victor ludorum title with 96 points.
Lacking competition, he wasn’t even challenged to run against the clock and took the 100m in 10.98; the 400m in 54.75 and the 200m in 23.86. Competing in almost all of the events, Mason also won the long jump, 1 500m, 800m, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles and placed second in the high and triple jumps and 5 000m.
Akila Forde of Dalton copped the girls’ Division One title with 73 points, cleaning up in events done prior to the finals.
Deighton’s Erin Corbin-Boyce did the senior girls’ sprint double in 11.66 and 26.48, while Armstrong’s Chelsi Corbin (over from Foundation School) won the 400m in 63.71.
Armstrong’s Asha Cave continues to improve and she took the senior victrix ludorum title, winning the 200m (25.93) and 400m (65.02) in addition to the high jump, triple jump, 800m and 300m hurdles. She was second in the long jump and 300m hurdles.
Other multiple winners were Jamie Drayton of Collymore, Deighton’s Janiah Drakes and Macaiah Gittens of Armstrong.
