Holmwood’s 400m ace looks to end on a high

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania:

Holmwood Technical High’s outstanding 400 metres runner Rickiann Russell is aiming to end her high-school career on a high at this weekend’s 127th staging of the Penn Relays in the Franklin Field Stadium in Philadelphia.

Yesterday morning, The Gleaner caught up with the outstanding athlete in Philadelphia. Russell has had a dream season so far where she has gained big wins in the 400 metres at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships and the Carifta Games. She is hoping to take her team to a victory in the High School Championships 4x400 metres when competition in the event starts today, with the preliminary round start 7:45 a.m. and the final set for 3 p.m. Twelve Jamaican teams will compete in the event. Hydel High are the defending champions.

“I want to end my final year competing for Holmwood on a high by helping them to win the 4x400m, and I am confident this can happen as long as we listen to our coach and carry out his instruction,” Russell said.

A year ago, Holmwood were fourth in the final in three minutes 42.39 seconds, behind Hydel .

“Myself and the other members of the team are confident that we can get the job done, and we really want to give the school another plaque and I am determined to leave with a Penn Relays watch and win our first title since 2019,” she said. Holmwood’s girls have won the 4x400m at Penns six times, five less than the top school Vere Technical.

Russell, who has been at Holmwood for seven years, said her decision to lose some weight was the main reason for her improved performances this season.

“Last year, I had too much weight and I told myself that I had to take off some of the weight if I wanted to do well, and I was very disciplined with the weight loss and it worked. I got much slimmer and it has resulted in my improved performances,” she said.

She is undecided about her next move after leaving high school.

“Right now, I am undecided about my plans for the future, on whether to go to college or to go professional. I am not sure. But I will sit down with my coaches and parents and we will make the best decision,” she said.