Sat | Dec 28, 2024

KC coach: We planned for the record

Published:Saturday | March 28, 2015 | 12:00 AMShayne Fairman
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Ricardo Makyn
Kingston College’'s Akeem Bloomfield (centre) wins the Class One 400 metres final in a new meet record of 44.93 seconds. Nathon Allen (left) of St Jago High was second in 45.30 seconds.
Ricardo Makyn
Paul Tate (second left) of St Elizabeth Technical winning the Class One boys 800 metres final in 1:52.94 seconds. Kingston College’s Chad Miller (left) was second in 1.53.45 seconds, while Devaughn Smith (right) of Spalding High was third in 1:53.48 seconds.
Ricardo Makyn
Natalliah Whyte (centre) of St Jago High winning the 200 metres in 23.56 seconds to complete the Class One girls sprint double at the National Stadium yesterday. Saqukine Cameron (left) of Edwin Allen High was third in 23.92 seconds.
Ricardo Makyn
Christopher Taylor of Calabar High taking the Class Two boys 200 metres final in 21.04 seconds.
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"We planned for the record," coach Neil Harrison of Kingston College (KC) told The Sunday Gleaner, following Akeem Bloomfield's fantastic national junior record run of 44.93 seconds to win the Class One 400 metres final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships yesterday.

On the final day of the competition, there were big performances, and Bloomfield's mark erased the previous mark of 45.21, which was held by Davian Clarke of KC.

It also shattered Calabar's Javon Francis' meet record of 45.00 seconds, set at Champs last year.

 

not surprised

 

Nathon Allen of St Jago High was second with 45.30, while World Youth Olympics 400m gold medallist Martin Manley, also of St Jago, was third in 46.41.

"I am not surprised," Harrison said. "We planned for this coming into this championship. The plan was to keep him (Akeem) healthy, and once we did that, we knew he would deliver.

It was a wonderful performance," Harrison added.

"Bloomfield's performance is one of the biggest of this championships, and I am not surprised he did so well. He is a superb athlete," Harrison underscored.

 

no limit

 

"I am proud of Akeem. He entered new territory, and there is no limit for him now," the coach assured.

In the meantime, the youngster, who fired up his purple and white supporters inside the National Stadium yesterday, was happy with his overall performance, but slightly surprised at the fast time.

"Well, no, I didn't expect such a fast time. My race plan was just to get out and get in front of everyone from the get-go," he said.

"I ran a fast 250 metres, so when I was coming home, I really had a lot more to give. I just found my rhythm and continued running hard," he explained.