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Richards ready for her rivals

Published:Thursday | March 23, 2017 | 3:26 PMRaymond Graham
Ricardo Makyn
Fiona Richards, then at Buff Bay High, prepares to launch the shot put during the Girls’ Class Two final at the 2015 ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Richards won with a throw of 15.21 metres.

IT will be familiar territory for Edwin Allen High's Class One thrower Fiona Richards when she lines up for her new school at next week's ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

The former Buff Bay High representative had to sit out last year's meet due to the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association transfer rule for non-sixth form students. However, it should be back to winning ways for her at this year's meet. The last time she competed at Champs, in 2015, she was a Class Two double champion capturing shot put and discus events. She is once again eyeing another double.

Despite her good form going into Champs, all has not been smooth for her.

"I had to miss training for more than four weeks in November due to severe chest pain and my coach and doctor told me to take a break but I am good now," said Richards, who stated that she had to work overtime in training to get back to her best.

Richards, who will also be competing in the javelin event, will renew rivalry with many of those athletes she defeated two years ago, including former St Elizabeth Technical athlete Sah Jay Stevens, who is now at St Jago, Hydel High's Devia Brown, Avery Pryce of Vere Technical, and former St Andrew High student Gabrielle Bailey who is now at St Jago High.

SEVERAL ISSUES

The talented Richards is looking forward to the rivalry once again, especially with Bailey, in the discus. Bailey has beaten her twice this season, at the Carifta Trials and Central Championships.

"I lost at Carifta Trials because I had several issues and was not focused, but I am ready now to compete to give my school valuable points to win the championships once again," she said.

She added: "I like the atmosphere at Edwin Allen and also the reception I received when I first got there; this is really great encouragement for me."