WIDE SMILES and nods of approval followed a spectacular run by Wibisco Stars' Shekeim Greaves in the men's100 metres during League I action at the National Stadium last Saturday night.
The Lodge School athlete, and son of Empire spinner Sherlon Greaves, didn't even make the Under-20 Boys' final at the CARIFTA Games last year after a false start. He got a good one this time and powered down the straight to win in 10.56 seconds.
His high-stepping strides drew comparisons to Olympian Obadele Thompson and there were nods of approval from among the selectors. Others wanted to know who he was since it was his first meet for the season. The challenge will now be to repeat and improve his times over rounds.
Elroy Agard of Rising Stars, unbeaten for the whole season, was a distant second in10.96 seconds after being left in the blocks.
Tongues wagging
Jerrad Mason of Rising Stars also had tongues wagging after an upset victory over Track & amp;Field Academy's Shaquille Alleyne in the 800 metres. What made the victory even more stunning, is that Mason is 14 years old, while Alleyne is in his second year in the Under-17 division.
Nicholas Henry of Wibisco Stars set the early pace until Alleyne took over after 500 metres and Mason didn't respond to the move all along the back stretch. Heading for home, Alleyne was a comfortable leader when Mason found another gear and pulled alongside. The two sprinted for the finish, Mason getting home in 1:59.84to Alleyne's 1:59.88.
Mason also won the400 metres in 51.37, both times well within the Inter-school records.
Callum Wright of Elite Distance looks set to take over now that his brother Matthew has moved into the Under-20 division.He was third in the 3 000 metres in 9:43.20 minutes, around the same time his brother did in 2007, his first year in the Under-17 division. The Inter-school record of 10:15.69 which he holds is definitely under threat.
Jason Wilson took point, only to lose the lead to Matthew with 300 metres to go. Matthew (9:41.30) seemed set to run away with it when Wilson (9:41:10) began his sprint with 80 metres to go, and couldn't hold him off.
Shani Adams, also of Elite Distance, won the girls' race in 11:36.77 from club mate Najuma Comissiong (12:08.74).
Easy winner
In her last race before leaving the island on scholarship, Kierre Beckles ran against the clock, a comfortable winner in 14.26 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles. Rising Stars teammate Tramaine Maloney showed he has plans to qualify for the CARIFTA Games with 14.65 and 59.65 seconds respectively in the 100mh and 400m hurdles.
Other noteworthy performances came from BC Trac's Mario Burke with 12.73 and 26.85 in the Under-13 Boys' 100 and 200 metres; Tariq Belves of Harrison College with 11.85 in the Under-15 100m dash and Shaquille Hollingsworth of Rising Stars with 11.56 in the Under-17 Boys' race.
Sprint double
BC Trac's Jalisa Burrowes did the Under-13 sprint double in 13.83 and 28.66, while Akela Taylor of Quantum Leap took the 400m (60.83) and 75m hurdles (12.61).
Pacers' Ronson Small (49.13) also kept his fans happy with a win in the 400 metres while teammates Christopher Davis (49.41) came second, and Joshua Walcott took the Under-15 race in 54.33.
The field events were not as spectacular, although there were some encouraging performances. Javelin gold medallist John Jones warmed up with 53.80 metres as he seeks to get the tougher Under-20 qualifying standard. His sister Akela Jones leaped 5.33 metres in the Under-17 Girls' long jump and Kemar Jones seems to be back to good form with 13.70min the triple jump.
Source: www.nationnews.com
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Lodge More Than Ready For Facelift
Years of inadequate and derelict facilities and high maintenance bills are about to come to an end for teachers and staff of The Lodge School.
If things go according to plan, construction of two new blocks, a hall, pavilion, new bathrooms, additional exits and other refurbishments to the facility will get underway at the St John compound in April as part of a $25 million project.
Principal Trevor Pilgrim told the SATURDAY SUN it was a long time in coming, and highly anticipated.
"We're extremely happy that we're finally going to have some improvement in the physical plant of the school.
"We have been operating for many years with severe challenges.
"The school has done well despite the challenges, but of course we anticipate that with better plant, better facilities, better equipment, we would be in a position to do even better... One of the main areas of relief would be the absence of overcrowding," Pilgrim disclosed.
He said there were a number of health and safety concerns at the school, which celebrates its 264th anniversary this year. He said windows sometimes fell out, several of the buildings were mouldy and "compromised" the health of occupants, and there were several cracks and vegetation in the buildings.
Pilgrim said the current population had outgrown the physical plant, which was not built to accommodate a roll of 1 004.
The school is in the process of acquiring additional land from Codrington Trust for the construction of the new hall.
"The assembly hall is totally inadequate, it cannot accommodate the school roll, so we have our assemblies in the open.
"If it rains we have to cancel assembly or postpone it, and if it's too hot the students also have problems. If there is any function we have, we have to rent tents and so on," Pilgrim stated, adding that classrooms and staff accommodations were inadequate as well.
The Memorial Hall will be kept for historical purposes. Pilgrim noted that it was constructed in the memory of former students who died in the two world wars.
He said a lot of money had been spent on maintenance over the years. Last year alone the figure for building maintenance was $200 000.
Block I, which houses the music room, bathrooms and other facilities will be demolished and replaced by a two storey block.
The "cramped" Block J for sixth formers will be demolished as well, making room for another two-storey structure.
Construction will be done in phases, and Pilgrim said he expected minimal dislocation during the process.
Prefabricated buildings will be erected to move students from the areas being worked on.
Adjustment of the school hours, and a traffic diversion from the road leading to the compound, are among considerations for when the project gets underway. (YB)
Source: www.nationnews.com
If things go according to plan, construction of two new blocks, a hall, pavilion, new bathrooms, additional exits and other refurbishments to the facility will get underway at the St John compound in April as part of a $25 million project.
Principal Trevor Pilgrim told the SATURDAY SUN it was a long time in coming, and highly anticipated.
"We're extremely happy that we're finally going to have some improvement in the physical plant of the school.
"We have been operating for many years with severe challenges.
"The school has done well despite the challenges, but of course we anticipate that with better plant, better facilities, better equipment, we would be in a position to do even better... One of the main areas of relief would be the absence of overcrowding," Pilgrim disclosed.
He said there were a number of health and safety concerns at the school, which celebrates its 264th anniversary this year. He said windows sometimes fell out, several of the buildings were mouldy and "compromised" the health of occupants, and there were several cracks and vegetation in the buildings.
Pilgrim said the current population had outgrown the physical plant, which was not built to accommodate a roll of 1 004.
The school is in the process of acquiring additional land from Codrington Trust for the construction of the new hall.
"The assembly hall is totally inadequate, it cannot accommodate the school roll, so we have our assemblies in the open.
"If it rains we have to cancel assembly or postpone it, and if it's too hot the students also have problems. If there is any function we have, we have to rent tents and so on," Pilgrim stated, adding that classrooms and staff accommodations were inadequate as well.
The Memorial Hall will be kept for historical purposes. Pilgrim noted that it was constructed in the memory of former students who died in the two world wars.
He said a lot of money had been spent on maintenance over the years. Last year alone the figure for building maintenance was $200 000.
Block I, which houses the music room, bathrooms and other facilities will be demolished and replaced by a two storey block.
The "cramped" Block J for sixth formers will be demolished as well, making room for another two-storey structure.
Construction will be done in phases, and Pilgrim said he expected minimal dislocation during the process.
Prefabricated buildings will be erected to move students from the areas being worked on.
Adjustment of the school hours, and a traffic diversion from the road leading to the compound, are among considerations for when the project gets underway. (YB)
Source: www.nationnews.com
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