Intercol stars throw hats into World Champs ring

INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONS Zandrion Barnes and Kadrian Goldson helped the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport to a historic win at last month’s Penn Relays. Now they have shifted their focus to the National Senior Championships in July.

Jevaughn White, Goldson, Barnes and Michael Sharp endured chilly Philadelphia weather to bring home the College’s first-ever Penns victory in the 4x200 metres. In addition, Barnes chased a lost cause in the 4x400 final and produced the fastest relay split time of the meet – 44.5 seconds. The next target for the 2023 Intercollegiate 400 champion is 45.00 seconds, the qualifying time for this year’s World Championships.

“I’m trying to work as best as possible to get the qualifying time before Trials, so I can go to Trials comfortable,” he outlined during a recent GC Foster training session.

First deployed to the 400 by his Manchester High School coach Dwayne Jarrett, the former footballer has responded with personal bests every year from 2019 onward and has already set one in 2023 – 45.41 seconds. His GC Foster coach Maurice Wilson is optimistic for the slim Portlander.

“I think he’s at that level now that he’s able to take on any of our national quarter milers and do extremely well,” Wilson proffered.

Barnes got bumped at the semifinal stage at last year’s Nationals but Wilson said, “Based on how he has been training, I think he’s going to do very well.”

Barnes trains with 2009 Pan-Am runner-up and two-time World Championship finalist Demish Gaye.

“Now you have a young turk who has no fear, trains very hard, and then you have Demish with the experience and the talent, calm and composed”, Wilson observed before adding, “I think it has done a lot for Zandrian just being in the presence of a Demish Gaye.”

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Goldson actually reached the national 100 final last year and got a taste of international competition at the Commonwealth Games and the NACAC Championships. Steady work has tumbled his personal best from 11.17 in 2017 to 10.14 in 2022 and 10.11 this season.

“First of all, coach and I identify that my start is the poorest part of the race, so once I can improve on that, we know my top end will come in at the right time. So we’ve been working on my start from early season, working, working, working, increasing my power, increasing my strength, working on the start. So once I get the first 30 metres right, the rest will come along just fine,” he predicted.

The Maggotty High School graduate is part of the ongoing revival of men’s sprinting in Jamaica.

“I see myself right up there with them because first of all, they were ahead of me during high school because they’ve been running 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 from high school. I didn’t hit that target until 23,” observed the sprinter, who was directed to GC Foster by Maggotty coach, Terone Miller.

Wilson is happy with his progression.

“This is the part of coaching I enjoy. When you can actually look at the steps and see the improvement occurring,” said Wilson.