Coached by Neil Harrison, Jamaica College (JC) dominated high school competition at the 2023 Gibson McCook Relays. JC won five relays while Corey Bennett’s Hydel High squad topped the girls’ section with three victories. To make things even sweeter, Hydel blasted a notable record off the books.
Harrison’s team won just one of the 4×100 finals, the Class 4 event in 45.46 seconds, before picking up the pace. The formidable JC class 1 sprint team, second to Kingston College in the 4×100, eased away to a 1 minute 25.92 seconds victory in the 4×200 to get the party started.
While JC cruised in front, there was a buzz of excitement further down the field. Herbert Morrison Technical was a distant sixth at the final exchange but 2022 Carifta 100 metre champion De Andre Daley closed fast and moved the Montego Bay school into fifth, then fourth and then third, courtesy of a rapid 19.9 second anchor leg.
Then came comprehensive JC success in the 4×800 – 7 minutes 40.78 seconds – and the sprint medley – 3 minutes 30.57 seconds. In the 4×800, the big splits came from Calabar transfer Nicholas Power and Kemarrio Bygrave, the 2021 Class 2 Boys and Girls Championships 800 winner, who clicked the clock in 1 minute 52.8 seconds and 1 minute 52.6 seconds respectively.
To bring the curtain down on a worthy renewal of the time-honoured Gibson McCook Relays, JC won easily in 3 minutes 10.40 seconds. Comfortable on the last leg was Malique Smith-Band who did his lap in 46.4 seconds.
JC’s time was a season leader.
Host school Kingston College won the class 1 4×100 and the class 3 4×100.
With Brianna Lyston gone early from Hydel to the US college system and the Clayton twins, Tina and Tia, turning pro, the high school girls Class 1 sprint relay was noticeably slower. Hydel won in 44.25, ahead of Edwin Allen at 44.91.
These times paled in comparison to 2022, when Edwin Allen zoomed 43.37 seconds.
However, Hydel struck a blow for the class of 2023 with a super run in the Open 4×200 relay. With World Under 20 200 bronze medallist Alana Reid storming the second leg, Hydel opened a gap and delivered to their captain Oneika McAnuff whose 22.6 second anchor leg was a joy to behold.
Hydel had set the existing record in 2017 at 1 minute 33.82 seconds. The new mark stands at an indomitable 1 minute 33.17 seconds! It was the only high school relay record of the entire meet.
McAnuff had shown her speed on the 4×100 and returned later for a captain’s run 52.3 seconds – on the third placed 4×400 unit.
Coach Bennett is already one of Jamaica’s most capable high school coaches and Gibson McCook added to his accomplishments. His Class 2 Calabar High School charges zoomed to wins in the 4×100 and the 4×200 metre relays to mark Bennett’s first season with the green-and-blacks. Hurdler/sprinter Shaquane Gordon and 200/400 prospect Nickecoy Bramwell did most of the damage.
Outshone by Hydel’s top-end quality, Edwin Allen nevertheless took two fine wins. The light blues from Frankfield continued their long running rule of the girls’ 4×800 with its 8th win in a row – 8 minutes 52.31 seconds – and then eased away from all comers in the 4×400 in 3 minutes 36.01 seconds.
A FLICKER OF HOPE IN THE HIGH JUMP
Veteran observers leaned forward to watch the men’s high jump. Winner Lushane Wilson and runner-up Christoff Bryan both equalled the 19-year-old Gibson McCook record of 2.24 metres. The mark was set by Germaine Mason just weeks before he won the bronze medal for Jamaica at the 2004 World Indoor Championships. Hopefully, the accomplishment by Wilson and Bryan will serve as a launching pad to higher heights.
Article by
Hubert Lawrence