The Inter-Secondary High School Track & Field Championships is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events for the year. The 22nd staging showcased some of the most talented student-athletes, including Janet Burke, who equalled the sprinting legend’s records.

Published Saturday, April 4, 1981

Vere repeats the girls’ CHAMPS victory easily but …

- Sprinter Janet Burke stars

JANET BURKE, A 17-year-old St Andrew High School student, stole the spotlight on the final day of  the 22nd Inter-Secondary High School Track & Field Championships at the National Stadium yesterday, overshadowing the impressive team performance by Vere Technical High School, who retained their title.  Vere tallied 150 points, 44 points more than nearest rival Dinthill.

Burke, a first-time runner in Class 1, outclassed her opponents in both sprints.  She raced to a smashing time of 11.4 secs. to erase the record of 11.6 secs. which she had equalled on the previous day held by former Vere Technical and now Jamaican star Merlene Ottey.

The well-built athlete came back in the 200 metres event to cruise to victory, and in the process, equal the record of 23.6 secs, set by Ottey in 1979, as was the case with the 100 metres record.  On the first day of the meet, Burke had equalled the 200 metres record in her heat.

The final points standings at the completion of the 34 finals were: Vere Technical - 150 points; Dinthill Technical - 106; Morant Bay - 76;  and Holmwood - 60. St. Andrew High - 56; St. Mary’s High - 50; Clarendon College - 44; Wolmer’s -  31; Queen’s - 30; Mannings - 27½; Merl Grove - 20½; Marymount - 19;  Herbert Morrison - 17; St. Hugh’s - 14; York Castle - 13; Kingston Technical - 14; William Knibb - 10; Excelsior - 8; Happy Grove - 7½; Immaculate Conception and Knox College - 7 each; St. Elizabeth Technical - 4½; Oberlin, Titchfield, Camperdown - 3 each; Manchester - 2; and Holy Childhood - 1.

Yesterday, 10 records were broken and one equalled. Among the record breakers were Fredricka Wright, who won the Class 1 400 metres in a new time of 54.3 secs. to erase the previous mark of 54.6 set by a former schoolmate Marcia Tate of Dinthill set last year.  Wright finished second to Burke in the sprints in 11.9 secs and 24.3 secs.

Veronica Findley of Vere won the Class 2 100 metres in a new time of 11.7 secs to break the old mark of 11.8 secs, set by Jackie Pusey of St Mary’s High in 1976. Findley won the 200 metres in 34.3 secs.

The Class 2 and Class 3 400 metres record was also broken when Rosemarie Bailey of Kingston Technical ran a time of 55.3 secs to beat the old mark of 55.4 set by Wright of Dinthill in 1979. Gertude Parke of Dinthill erased the Class 1 800 metres record with a run of 2:13.0 secs.  The record of 2:13.9 was held by Marcia Tate of Dinthill last year. Eugene Beason of Clarendon, who finished second, also came inside the record, finishing in 2:13.3 sec.

Class 2 100 metres hurdles record also was shattered as K. Allen of St Mary, who clocked 14.1 secs to clip point one of a second off the old mark set by Sharon Moffat of Camperdown in 1977.

Camille Coates of Immaculate Conception failed to beat the Class 3 100 metres record of 12.1 as she repeated her semi-final time of 12.2.

The girls segment of Jamaica’s team for the Carifta Games will be selected today, with consideration being given to outstanding performers in Girls’ Champs.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.