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St Andrew continue JTA/Sagicor Champs dominance

Published:Sunday | May 26, 2019 | 12:34 AM

Finishing the final event, the open boys’ 1600m medley, on Day Two of the JTA/Sagicor National Athletic Championship yesterday are student athletes from the winning Parish Champion of St Andrew (from left) Jamarli Innerarity, Trarell Beckford, Javiere Malcolm, and Jamie Miller.
Finishing the final event, the open boys’ 1600m medley, on Day Two of the JTA/Sagicor National Athletic Championship yesterday are student athletes from the winning Parish Champion of St Andrew (from left) Jamarli Innerarity, Trarell Beckford, Javiere Malcolm, and Jamie Miller.

Nineteen-time defending champion St Andrew retained the JTA/Sagicor National Athletics Parish Champion title for the second consecutive year after amassing 332.5 points at the 36th staging of the two-day event, which ended at the National Stadium yesterday.

Coming in at second place was St Elizabeth on 232 with Portland (213 points), St Catherine (199), and Kingston (168) rounding out the top five.

St Andrew also dominated in the male and female categories, winning with 145 points for the males and 187.5 for the females.

New records were set over the two days to include a double by Chavez Penn of St Thomas, in the under-15 boys high jump, with a leap of 1.60m. He also cut the sand in the long jump at 5.08m. Chadrick Robinson of Manchester erased the old mark of 3:42.85 with 3:41.19s in the boys’ 1200m open, while De’Andre Gayle of St Elizabeth sprinted 57.52 in the boys’ under-13 400m, erasing the old mark of 57.73.

An elated Alysia White, executive director of the Sagicor Foundation and head of group marketing, Sagicor Group Jamaica, title sponsor of the meet for the past 36 years, expressed her delight as she addressed the audience during the parade of athletes on yesterday’s final day of the event.

“As you know, it all begins here for these young athletes, and we would want to encourage all parents and teachers to continue to support them. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for these athletes, and Sagicor will continue to provide this platform for our children to excel and conquer the world,” said White.

SECOND TITLE FOR HARRIS

This win is the second title for Mabracq Harris, who has been the parish coordinator of St Andrew for the past three years. In response to his win, he said: “We had good training sessions, and my athletes were prepared, focused, and executed well, especially in the relays, where we won seven of 10. We dedicate this one to our president, Kaydia McCalla, who has been our greatest support. Thanks to the support staff as our hard work has paid off.”

Chairman of the JTA National Sports Committee Patrick Graham added: “We are grateful for the sponsorship from Sagicor, which has helped the Jamaica Teachers’ Association to harness the talent outside of the classroom and contribute to the wholistic development of these youngsters.”