The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE CR Walker Knights and the HO Nash Lions emerged as the overall high and junior school champions of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Cross Country Championships over the weekend.

The one-day event on Saturday morning at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium attracted over 400 competitors from all of the public schools in New Providence.

According to GSSSA president Varel Davis, the event was a success, despite some hiccups.

“We had some hiccups at the beginning and that was expected because we’re just coming back after two and-a-half years of inactivity,” Davis said. “But the support from the various schools was very good. Hopefully we will be bigger and better next year.

Davis said the athletes really enjoyed themselves and she’s happy with the results.

The Knights clinched the senior high divisional title, while the Lions took home the junior high crown.

“It’s an awesome feeling to win, knowing that the children put in the hard work,” said Rashad Brice, who is now in his second year as the head coach of CR Walker’s track and field team. “They did the hard work and it paid off.

“I’m just proud of them, our administration and everybody who came out here and supported us, especially the parents for them being out here with the children. They all showed heart. I just want to congratulate them.”

Brice promised his rivals that this was just the beginning of what is to come from the Knights as they now prepare to defend their title in the GSSSA track and field championships whenever it is held next year.

“More to come,” he said. “Stay tuned.”

The Knights celebrated as they got a 1-2 punch from Carlton Johnson and Carlos Brown, who claimed the top prizes in the under- 20 boys division of the race that was staged on the terrain outside of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and ended up on the track on the inside.

Johnson took the tape in 16 minutes and five seconds, holding off Brown, who trailed in 16:07.

Steven Joseph of the CI Gibson Rattlers fell short of pulling off the upset when he came in second in 16:08 for third.

“It was hard. I had a lot of competition, but I want to thank God, my coach (Trevor Grant) at CR Walker who pushed me,” Johnson said. “I started to push back because the race was hard, but after I let everybody up front get tired, I went for it.”

CR Walker also won the divisional title with the RM Bailey Pacers second and the CV Bethel Stingrays third.

Melvinique Gibson, a 17-year-old 12th grader at RM Bailey, was crowned the under-20 girls champion as she clocked 14:52 to out-sprint CR Walker’s Natassia Edgecombe, who got second in 15:10. Gibson’s team-mate Lauquay Kemp was third in 16:24.

“It was good. It was kind of tough, but I had to stride through it and run through it. I believed in myself and I just put God first,” said Gibson, who is preparing for her first appearance at CARIFTA where she hopes to represent the Bahamas in either the 100, 200, 400 or 800m.

RM Bailey, however, had to settle for second fiddle in the team standings behind CR Walker. Doris Johnson came in third.

Winning the under-17 boys’ title was Raywind Winder of the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins. His time of 11:20 was just enough to hold off a contingent from CR Walker, led by second place finisher Aden Taylor (11:29) and Ross Martin (11:30).

“It was a little okay, but it was frustrating because they told us we had to go one way and they switched it before the race,” said Winder, an 11th grader who celebrated his 16th birthday on November 2.

“I still managed to surge out front and come out in first place. I am still nursing a hamstring injury, but I was glad that I was able to battle through it and still won.

“I want to try and make the team again for CARIFTA in the 400, 800 and maybe the 1,500, if my coach (Ashland Murray) puts me in it.”

Winder also helped CV Bethel to clinch the divisional title over CR Walker and CC Sweeting.

In a photo finish in the under-17 girls division, Marquell Newbold got the win for CV Bethel over A’Karee Roberts of CR Walker as they both were timed in 13:27.

Ja’Cara Evans of the CC Sweeting Cobras was third in 14:17.

“It was a hard race for me. I’m not a distance runner, but with the support of my coach (Daron Lightbourne) and my brother (Meleeke Newbold), I was able to endure to the end,” said Newbold, a 16-year-old 12th grader.

As a sprinter/jumper, Newbold said she was surprised that they won, but it gives them an inspiration for her appearance in the GSSSA Championships as well as the National Championships and hopefully CARIFTA.

CR Walker got the divisional title with CV Bethel second and the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves third.

HO Nash’s Gabriel Johnson was the winner of the under-15 boys division in 8:46. Chanione Jones of the DW Davis Raptors was second in 9:04 and Ordney Elifaite of the LW Young Golden Eagles got third in 9:09.

“The race was fun,” said Johnson, a 14-year-old ninth grader.

“At the first beginning, everybody sped out and so I had to catch up. My coach (Ashland Murray) and my mother (Phyllis Colebrooke) was there cheering for me.”

HO Nash won the divisional crown over LW Young and DW Davis.

Raminique McLennon of LW Young won the under- 15 girls title in 10:40. Zante Ferguson of HO Nash was second and Brey’Ellle Cooper of the SC McPherson Sharks was third, both in 11:30.

DW Davis won the divisional title with HO Nash second and CH Reeves third.

“It was good, but tiring because my legs were hurting and the race was long,” said McLennon, a 13-year-old ninth grader. “My friend in front of me was helping me. We was talking and pushing each other.”

The under-13 boys division saw HO Nash pick up the 1-2 spot with Patrero Sherman winning in 10:03 and Taveras Rolle as the runner up in 10:07. CH Reeves’ Denzel Clarke was third in 10:18.

HO Nash won the divisional title with CH Reeves second and SC McPerson third.

And in the under-13 girls division, Shakinah Lewis of AF Adderley won the title in 10:33 with Azaria Dean of HO Nash second in 10:34 and Esmaelia Pamiean of CH Reeves third in 10:35.

CH Reeves captured the divisional title with AF Adderley second and SC McPherson third.