The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The CH Reeves Raptors continued their dominance of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Junior Track and Field Championships, winning the title yesterday.

On Wednesday at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the Raptors finished the two-day meet with 522.83 points to stay well ahead of their nearest rivals, the AF Adderley Fighting Tigers, who had 446 for second.

The HO Nash Lions rounded out the top three with 295, SC McPherson Sharks fourth with 279.50, DW Davis Pitbulls fifth with 194, TA Thompson Scorpions sixth with 154, LW Young Golden Eagles seventh with 143.67 and Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves completed the field of teams in eighth with 76.

“The performance today was superb,” said head coach Rashad ‘Tubba’ McKenzie after getting dosed by water amidst the team celebrations. “We had some mistakes on day one, but we got everything in place and pulled it off.”

McKenzie said their athletes “put in the work” and they train. “Like I always tell them, once you continue to put in the work, everything will fall into place,” McKenzie said. “We did that and we won again.”

As the meet wrapped up yesterday, at least eight more records were broken with names from CH Reeves being inked in seven of them.

• HO Nash’s Ambernique Coakley, coming off her victory in the girls’ under-14 100 metres on Tuesday, doubled up in the 200m in a winning time of 27.24 seconds to erase the meet record that was held by Rashae Dean (28.35) last year.

“I was a little nervous going into the race, but once I got started, I felt free,” said 12-year-old Coakley, who duplicated her performance from last year. “When you get the race, you feel relieved. I’m just glad that I won. It feels amazing.”

Coakley’s teammate Sherinique Scar was second in 28.40 and Victoria Kemp of CH Reeves was third in 29.10.

• CH Reeves’ Jamal Flowers ran 24.85 to win the boys’ under-14 100m to erase the record of 25.78 that was set by Reuben Cooper in 2015. Flowers also set a record in the 100m the day before.

“It was good, good,” said the 13-year-old Flowers of his race. “I just got out strong, came off the curve fast and I went for it.”

Ahmad Evans, also from CH Reeves, was second in 26.12 and Terrance Deveaux of SC McPherson was third in 26.21.

• Dayona Williams of CH Reeves got a double win in the under-16 girls’ division as she added the 200m title in 28.78 to her triumph in the 100m. She repeated as the double champion from last year.

“It was good. I tried my best,” said Williams, a 14-year-old ninth grader. “I think I could have done a little better. The competition was good.”

Joelia Raphael of TA Thompson came in second in 29.21 and Jael Adderley of HO Nash was third in 29.43.

• Leandre Lightbourne, also from CH Reeves, powered across the finish line in 23.77 to win the under-16 boys’ 200m as he too shattered the previous record of 24.29 that was set by Allen Jean last year.

“It was good. I had to push hard to make it. I came off the curve hard and I pushed hard,” said 13-year-old Lightbourne. “The competition was hard. I was very pleased with my performance.”

AF Adderley’s Latrell Forbes ran 24.79 for second and CH Reeves’ Joshua Joseph was third in 25.27.

In the under-14 girls’ 800m, Wadine Forestal came from behind after the first lap to pull away from the pack and held on for the win for AF Adderley. Her time was 2:46.25. CH Reeves’ Tonnice Stubbs was second in 2:49.49 and SC McPherson’s Leoshane Johnson of SC McPherson came in third in 2:51.71.

“It was very hard, but I couldn’t let me team down,” said Forestal, a 12-year-old eight grader. “I just thank God for giving me more strength to run.”

The boys’ under-14 800m was won by Adrianneno Brown of SC McPherson in 2:23.89. HO Nash’s Travis Alleyne was second in 2:24.66 and CH Reeves’ Kevin Barr was third in 2:27.43.

“It was a good race. I enjoyed it. I saw the guy trying to catch me, but I knew I had to pick up my pace,” said Brown, 12.

• Rowlia Joseph of AF Adderley won the under-16 girls’ 800m in 2:35.05. The time erased the meet record of 2:38.70 that was set by Shanique Knowles in 2015.

“I pushed hard to get a lead and to stay ahead,” said 13-year-old Joseph, who repeated as champion. “When I got on the final lap, I stayed ahead and I pushed hard for the finish line.”

HO Nash’s Ayesha Sylvester was second in 2:41.50 and Nicola Smith of CH Reeves was third in 2:49.90.

And in the boys’ under-18 800, CH Reeves got a 1-2 punch as Anton Pratt won in 2:13.47 and Fredrick Jonassaint was second in 2:15.39. Jordan Gibson of AF Adderley was third in 2:16.71.

• CH Reeves’ team of Jamal Flowers, Kevin Barr, Lavardo Kemp and Ahmad Evans ran 4:00.62 to ein the under-14 boys 4 x 400m relay, replacing the previous record of 4:09.78 that was held by CH Reeves.

• AF Adderley’s team of Petranique Conliffe, Brittney Meadows, Cheline Safate and Rowlia Joseph clocked 4:26.92 to win the under-16 girls’ 4 x 400m relay in a record time. The old mark was 4:27.55 that was set by CH Reeves.

• CH Reeves’ Ahmad Evans, in one of the most dominating individual performances, also inked his name in the books in the high jump. He cleared 1.60m and was followed by teammate Don Stuart with 1.48 as they both went over the old mark of 1.47m that was set by Tyrese Swain in 2015.

Deshawn Newbold of LW Young was third with 1.27m.

• Adena Cunningham, also from CH Reeves, got into the record books when she cleared 4.48m to win the girls’ under-6 long jump to erase the previous mark of 4.47m that was set by Craisha Johson last year.

Diana Dean of AF Adderley was second with 4.33m and D’Sasha Cooper of SC McPherson was third in 4.17m.