Top high school stars for ‘Isaac’ Henry Invitational

Excitement should be high at the National Stadium today when St Andrew Technical High host the fifth staging of the S.W. ‘Isaac’ Henry Invitational Track and Field meet. Several of the island’s top high-school teams will clash in what is the final meet before next week’s prestigious Gibson/McCook Relays. Action is scheduled to start at 8:25 a.m. with the 1500 metres open for girls. The meet, which is run in honour of the late outstanding principal of St Andrew Technical High, has been well supported over the years but according to deputy chairman of the organising committee, Juliet Parkes-Livermore, today’s staging will be the biggest ever. “The support for this year’s staging has been the best ever as 86 teams, with more than 2,300 athletes have entered the meet. All the leading schools seeking championship honours in both categories have entered, and we expect a fun-filled day of serious competition,” Livermore-Parkes said. She added: “All the events on today’s programme have been sponsored by past students and other companies. Mayberry Investments are the title sponsors.”

Cash incentives

There will be cash incentives for winners of the 4x100 and 4x400 metres relays. The winners among high-school teams will pocket $40,000, with second receiving $20,000, and third place collecting $10,000. The winners of the prep and primary schools sprint relays will walk away with $20,000, while second, and third-place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.

After helping her team to a record-breaking 43.94 seconds in the Class Two girls 4x100 metres at last Saturday’s Milo Western Relays at the G.C. Foster College, Edwin Allen High’s outstanding female sprinter, Kevona Davis, will bow into individual action today. The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships record holder in the Class Two 100 and 200 metres will compete in the longer sprint which is set to go off at 3:10 p.m.

Among those expected to compete today are members of Edwin Allen’s strong Class Three team, including twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton. They should get good competition from the outstanding St Jago High athlete Briana Lyston. Title contenders Hydel High and Holmwood are also down to compete in the girls’ events. After some very good performances all season, defending ISSA Boys’ champions, Calabar High, will once again be out in large numbers. They will again be led by 400m ace Christopher Taylor. Former champions Kingston College are quietly showing signs of doing something special this year and will be hoping to go toe to toe with their rivals while the likes of Jamaica College and St Jago will be looking to fine-tune their charges for both the Gibson McCook Relays and next month’s Boys and Girls’ Championships. Track events down to be contested today are the 1500m, 200m, 400m hurdles, 2000m steeplechase, all sprint hurdles along with 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Field events will include the long jump, high jump, discus, shot put and javelin throw.