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We’ll be coming to take the title – JC’s Wasome

Published:Sunday | February 28, 2016 | 6:00 PMShayne Fairman
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Devaughn Baker of Jamaica College receives the baton from Odario Phillips in the Boys’ Class One 4x100 metres at the Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium on Saturday.

He might have been a youngster looking on when the 'Dark Blues' last won the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys' Championships in 2011.

Now that Obrien Wasome is Jamaica College (JC) team captain, the Class One star jumper is warning favourites Calabar High School and runner-up Kingston College (KC) that his team will reign supreme at the March 15-19 championship.

The Old Hope Road institution had consecutive third-place finishes in 2014 and last year, where they accumulated 200 points, mainly from a very strong jumps and field events team.

This year, the captain, who is hoping to lead from the front, says the team is more balanced with sprinting prowess and coming to win.

"We last won Champs in 2011, and that is a big gap. As captain, what I am looking to do is just put inspiration into our team," said Wasome.

"We have a very good team, so we are just going all out for a Champs win, with determination and hard work. We will deliver on the track," he told The Gleaner last Saturday following successful performances at the Gibson-McCook Relays inside the National Stadium.

Wasome's JC confidently captured the Class One Boys' 4x100m in 40.01 ahead of St Jago, 40.44 and Cornwall College, 40.57.

"We can't be seen as underdogs. We have an all-round team and we will be coming to take the title. We will lead from the start and no one is going to catch us; no catching JC," he warned.

Wasome ran a superb starting leg to power JC to a sensational win, as their main challengers at the event, as well as next month's championships, Calabar High and KC, fell, giving JC an even more comfortable win.

"In the heats, I wasn't satisfied with the start, but in the final, I got it and we got it right. It's a good feeling knowing it's my last Gibson Relays competing for Jamaica College and walking away with a gold and a silver. I am very happy for that," he explained.

Wasome also picked up silver in the men's long jump with a leap of 7.21 metres behind Damar White, 7.37m, of the University of Technology. Laurel Gordon of G.C. Foster College was third at 7.17 metres.