Brilliant Blake
YOHAN BLAKE, the 2011 World 100 metres champion, showed some signs yesterday that he could be back to his brilliant best with an impressive anchor leg to pilot Racers to victory in the men’s 4x100 metres for clubs and institutions at yesterday’s 41st staging of the Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium. Racers won the event in 38.59 seconds, ahead of Sprintec, 38.88, with third going to Akan Track Club, 39.08.
It was very competitive up to the final leg before Blake hit top gear to sprint away from his rivals. The other members of the Racers quartet were Jason Rodgers, Zharnel Hughes, and Jevaughn Minzie.
Blake was very pleased with his team’s triumph and his own performance.
“I feel very great about this victory as coach Glen Mills has been doing different things with me in my training, and it is working as I am more upright in my technique. I am looking forward to the season, especially the World Relays, as I like the relay atmosphere,” said Blake.
In the high school boys sprint relays, purple power reigned as Kingston College warmed up for the ISSA-Grace-Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships with a clean sweep of the 4x100 metres relays for Class One, Two, Three, and Four.
It was the Jhevaughn Matherson-led Class One team that got the show going as they went under the 40 seconds barrier after a brilliant third leg from Matherson saw them clocking 39.90. Excelsior (40.28) were second and Jamaica College (40.40) third. The other members of the winning KC team were Carey McLeod, Yashawn Hamilton, and Tyreke Bryan.
A fighting effort from Oshane Peart on anchor sealed the Class Two win. Peart came through strong in the last 20 metres to hand KC victory in 41.15. JC ended a close second in 41.17, with Excelsior taking third in 41.63.
KC took Class Four in 44.41, ahead of Calabar (44.98), with Cornwall College taking third in 46.63.
GIRLS RELAYS COMPETITIVE
The high school girls sprint relays were very competitive, with Edwin Allen High capturing two, including one in record time, while Holmwood Technical and Hydel High won one each.
The most impressive came in the Class Three 4x100 metres, where Edwin Allen blazed to an impressive record of 44.91, beating Holmwood (45.67), with third going to Excelsior in 46.18.
Edwin Allen also had a sub-45 seconds clocking in Class One, winning in 44.56 ahead of Hydel, 44.86, and St Jago third in 45.4.
In Class Four, Hydel took advantage of Edwin Allen’s dropped baton on the second exchange to win the 4x100m in a record 47.22 seconds as St Jago were second in 47.68, ahead of third-place Excelsior, 48.47.
Holmwood had a close victory over Vere Technical in Class Two. They won in 45.57 ahead of Vere, 45.60; and St Jago, third in 46.30.
Earlier, Sprintec, led by Gayon Evans, eased to victory in the women’s sprint relay for clubs and institutions in 43.30. G.C. Foster were second in 44.34, with UTech taking third on 44.42.