Jamaica’s sprinting legacy safe – Michael Dyke
Published:Sunday | May 1, 2022 | 12:12 AMHubert Lawrence - Gleaner Writer
Michael Dyke, coach of Edwin Allen High School, says Jamaica has a very bright future in women’s sprinting. Dyke made the observation after Edwin Allen lowered its own Penn Relays 4x100-metre record to 43.18 seconds on April 29.
Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall and Tia Clayton of Edwin Allen zoomed to the time in Philadelphia while being pursued by a fine Hydel High School quartet of Alana Reid, Brianna Lyston, Kerrica Hill and Oneka Wilson at 43.69.
Having witnessed a world under-20 record of 42.58 by Jamaica at the Carifta Games, Dyke said, “I think our women’s sprinting is very bright, especially this group that is currently getting to the senior rank in high school. So when you look at the overall picture for our female sprinting, I would say it is good hands and we just have to make sure that we keep them grounded and cherish them,” said Dyke.
Edwin Allen cut its own world high school record from 43.28 set earlier in April. The runner-up Hydel unit barely missed the old Penn record of 43.62 seconds by Edwin Allen.
“I don’t know if persons recognise what we have currently,” said Dyke.
“But it’s a super crop and we cannot afford for anything to go wrong. We must provide all the support possible to keep them together and to keep them healthy and to continue to perform well.”
FAST INDIVIDUAL TIMES
The ‘crop’ has clocked fast individual times this year with Tina winning the World Under-20 title in 11.09 seconds last year, and Lyston, Hill, Reid, Tia and Cole speeding to 11.14, 11.16, 11.22, 11.30 and 11.51 seconds, respectively. In addition, Carletta Bernard of Mount Alvernia has gone 11.44 seconds.
Notably, the Carifta winning team of Cole, Tina, Lyston and Tia are all just 17.
With regard to the 2022 World Under-20 Championships this August, Dyke voiced a staggering estimate.
“With this team, and based on what we would have seen, so many surprises, a 42 low. Who to tell, you might see a 41 high, to be very honest, and because the way these girls are running, and as you said, late in the summer, anything is possible.”
The under-20 meet is being held in Cali, Colombia, where legendary Donald Quarrie set a 200-metre world record – 19.86 seconds – in 1971.
Hall isn’t eligible for under-20 competition but Dyke can see her speeding in the future.
“Brandy potentially is very good,” he said of the 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championship’s class one 100-metre champion.
“From my perspective, she just needs to settle a bit more. Once I get her to settle and focus some more, she’s going to be super, so wherever she goes, I hope she’ll develop a little more maturity and you will see the true Brandy Hall coming out.”