The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE CR Walker Knights regained the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association's (GSSSA) Senior High Track and Field Championships that had been in the possession of the CV Bethel Stingrays for the past two years after a resounding victory at the two-day meet on Friday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The Knights, under first-year coach Ednal Rolle, accumulated 590.5 points to clinch the title, leaving the CI Gibson Rattlers in second with 520.5 and CV Bethel, who also had a new coach, a distant third with 486.5. The CC Sweeting Cobras and the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins rounded out the top five.

Rolle, who transferred from the LN Coakley High in Exuma to replace long-time head coach Floyd Armbrister, said it was a victory that he will cherish.

"It's a great feeling," he said after getting doused with water by the jubilant Knights' athletes during their celebrations. "To come in as a first-year coach and to win the title is a honour. I think we just had a team that wanted it more than everybody else and they went out there and proved it."

No records were broken on the final day but there was some controversy.

In the under-18 boys 4 x 400m relay, the eight teams were split into two races instead of running together. The first heat turned out to be the fastest with the CI Gibson Rattlers winning in 4 mins 33.16 secs. The CR Walker Knights were second with 4:36.61 and the CV Bethel Stingrays third with 4:40.59.

The other heat was won by CI Gibson, who ended up fourth in terms of time.

CR Walker only won the under-20 girls relay in 4:25.56 followed by CV Bethel in 4:39.42 and CI Gibson in 4:56.34.

CI Gibson captured the under-18 girls relay in 4:33.16 with CR Walker getting second in 4:36.61 and CV Bethel third in 4:40.59.

And in the under-20 boys relay as they curtain came down on the meet, CI Gibson pulled off the win in 3:30.76 as Doris Johnson got second in 3:32.79 and CV Bethel third in 3:36.99.

Athletes such as Mickela Rolle and Kaylea Albury stood out in the under-18 and under-20 girls divisions respectively. Tyrik Thurston, from Anatol Rodgers, and Cameron Oliver, from CV Bethel, were among the top competitors in the under-18 and under-20 boys divisions.

Full review of the meet and photographs, see Monday's Tribune.

FINAL STANDINGS

Combined team scores

CR Walker 590.5

CI Gibson 520.2

CV Bethel 486.5

CC Sweeting 321

Doris Johnson 309.5

RM Bailey 222.5

Anatol Rodgers 202

Government High 88.5

Female team scores

CR Walker 329.5

CV Bethel 221.5

CI Gibson 206.5

CC Sweeting 173.5

Doris Johnson 139

RM Bailey 124

Anatol Rodgers 79

Government High 29

Male team scores

CI Gibson 314

CV Bethel 265

CR Walker 261

Doris Johnson 170.5

CC Sweeting 147.5

Anatol Rodgers 123

RM Bailey 98.5

Government High 59.5