GC Foster in charge as records tumble at Intercol Champs
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport are in control after day one of the NCB Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships on a day which was highlighted by record-breaking performances by their own Oshane Archibald and Jessica Noble from the University of Technology (UTech).
G.C. Foster lead on the male side with 72 points after five finals, and are followed by UTech, 48; University of the West Indies (UWI), 37; Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), 7; with Excelsior Community College, 7, rounding out the top five.
On the female side, the Spanish Town-based G.C. Foster are on 56 points. UTech follows with 36. UWI, 22, and Mico, 20, close out the top four.
Archibald continued his fine form this season in the men’s 3000 metre steeplechase after stopping the clock at 9:21.45, to break his own record of 9:38.02 set last year. His teammate Garfield Gordon (9:29.20), and UTech’s Shane Buchanan (9:29.96), who finished second and third, respectively, were also under the old record.
LONG JUMP RECORD
The next record on the day came in an exciting women’s long jump as after seeing G.C. Foster’s Tissana Hickling break the old mark of 6.42 metres on her second attempt with a new mark of 6.44 metres, Noble, on her second attempt, registered a personal best of 6.61 metres, which gave her a win and the new record.
However, there was some reprieve for Hickling in the 100m, which she won in 11.65 seconds, getting the better of UTech’s Shimarya Williams, who was second in 11.73 seconds, with Mico’s Tiffany Higgins taking the bronze in 12.02 seconds.
Romario Williams of G.C. Foster College stole the show in the men’s 100m, capturing the event in 10.27 seconds in a -1.7 metres per second wind factor. He got the better of Dushawn Mighty of CMU (10.50 seconds) and Javoy Tucker of UTech, who was third in 10.51 seconds.
The championships will come to a climax today starting at 1 p.m. with the men’s long jump, and close at 8:55 p.m. with the men’s 4x400m.