Holmwood's sprint relay team, from left, Andrea Reid, Anastasia Le-Roy, Schillonie Calvert, Sonita Sutherland and Rosemarie White, pose with the Penn Relay Shield . - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HOLMWOOD TECHNICAL'S track team manager Chester McCarthy described the school's success in four of seven Championship of Americas events at the Penn Relays as "phenomenal".
"I thought it (performance) was phenomenal, because for any one team or any one school to go to the Penn Relays and take back four Championship of Americas titles, creating a clean sweep in the girls' section, I think it is phenomenal," McCarthy told The Gleaner on the school's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.
In the mile relay, Holmwood's quartet of Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, Anastasia Le-Roy, Schillonie Calvert and Sonita Sutherland romped home in 3:36.98.
The 4x800m team of Vanessa Boyd (2:13.8), Jeraine Bolt (2:14.3), Sonita Sutherland (2:08.5), and Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (2:09.3) secured victory in 8:45.87, while Sutherland, Rosemarie White, Schillonie Calvert and Anastasia Le-Roy crossed the line in 44.56, the third fastest time ever at the meet.
"The group put the work in, the coaches put the work in, Mr. Wilson (Maurice) worked tirelessly at all of this and it was just a great effort on the path of many persons."
The boys - Bernard Powell, Kerone Robinson, Melvin Weller, and Stafford McFarlane - also took the 4x800m in 7:43.35.
"It was a great performance for me, I was prepared for it," said Sutherland who ran on all three winning relay teams.
"It was hard for me, but it wasn't for me alone, it's a team," said the final year student at Holmwood who said she will be attending college in Jamaica.
Calvert, a member of the 4x100m and 4x400m teams, said: "I'm very proud because we all won four events ¬ the javelin, 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m.
"I'm sure everybody in Jamaica will be proud of us also," Calvert said.
Bobby-Gaye, a member of the mile and 4x800m teams, was also overjoyed.
"I feel very happy. We were positive going out there and we did our best in winning three relays," she said.
Teneisha Blair who won the girls' javelin, said it pushed her closer towards qualifying for the World Junior Championships.
"The only focus for me now is the World Juniors and I will be working towards that," said Blair who will be trying to improve on her 46.62m.
Edwin Allen with 400m hurdles winner Sherene Pinnock (56.90), Manchester, Morant Bay, and Vere were other teams that arrived yesterday.
Reprinted from the Jamaica Gleaner
