Wellington proud of NACAC performances

THE JAMAICA team is back from the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-18 and 23 Athletics Championships which was held over the past weekend in San Jose, Costa Rico, and manager of the team, Keith Wellington, is proud of the team’s achievement after picking up 32 medals (13 gold,14 silver and five bronze), finishing second behind the United States with 47 medals.

“It was really a good performance from our athletes over the three days. Finishing second behind the United States without some 25 members of the original team selected was really outstanding,” said Wellington, principal of St Elizabeth Technical High School and president of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association.

Before the team departed last week to the Championships they had visa issues resulting in a number of athletes not making the trip.

“Considering that we went to the Championships without most of our athletes, I think their performances, overall, was remarkable and definitely, if we had gone with our full complement of athletes, we could easily have topped the medal table,” added Wellington.

“We were especially weakened in our under-18 group, especially amongst the females, where only three athletes participated and here they picked up three medals, two gold by Edwin Allen High’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge in the 100 and 200 metres, and Jadea Robinson of Immaculate Conception in the triple jump, who was second and we were also unable to participate in the relays,” said Wellington.

“Jamaica’s strength is in the sprints and we were not able to make an impact overall as most of the athletes in this area were left out and we did not have the likes of a Bryan Levell and Zandrian Barnes in the under-23 division.”

Wellington singled out two athletes for exceptional performances.

“I think young Terrelonge did exceptionally well after winning the sprint double with a personal best of 11.41 in the 100 metres and 23.53 seconds in the 200 metres, which was also a meet record. Also, quarter-miler, Deandre Anderson, who ran out of lane seven in the men’s under-23 400 metres and won in a smart 45.56 seconds.”

“Despite the problems, I think those who were there did not let that affect their performances. They were very focused, their attitude was first class,” concluded Wellington.