The 2014 Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) Senior Track and Field Championships got underway yesterday at the old Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The C.R. Walker Knights are the defending champs and have won 13 consecutive GSSSA titles, but the first day belonged to the C.V. Bethel Stingrays.
It marks the first time in years that the Knights have trailed after the first day. The Stingrays ended the day with 316 points, 33 points ahead of the Knights who finished with 283 points.
"The Stingrays have come a long way, and managed to build a strong powerhouse track club. I'm not surprised at all, " said Kevin 'KJ' Johnson, president of the GSSSA. "They have jumped out to a strong start, but you can never count out the Knights, but I'm impressed with C.V. Bethel so far. We will have to see what happens on day two."
C.C. Sweeting ended the day in third with 131 points and Anatol Rodgers currently sits in the fourth spot with 126 points. Doris Johnson is in fifth with 114 points, the C.I. Gibson Rattlers trail in sixth with 110 points, the R.M. Bailey Pacers are seventh with 92 points, and Government High School trails the pack in eighth with 83 points.
The Stingrays dominated on the track. They won several events and placed highly in others. "We did really well in the sprints, and even a few long distance races. We won both boys' and girls' 100-meter races, and even the under-20 boys' 5,000-meter race. I am very pleased with the team so far. I hope we continue to push and work as hard as we did today."
Cliff Resias won the senior boys' 100-meter (m) dash in a time of 10.51 seconds for the Stingrays and his teammate Pearlene Gardiner won the senior girls' 100m in a time of 12.60 seconds. Jemeko Hinsey finished first in the under-20 boys' 5,000-meter race in a time of 17:20.
Jodie Miller won the senior girls' 400m for the Stingrays. She finished in a time of 1:04.
"My athletes have been preparing for a while now. They come out and train hard. They are also part of my club as well so I am working with them at school and here at the track almost everyday," said Gardiner.
If the Stingrays hold on and manage to win, it would be the school's first track and field championship.
"I feel like we are ready to win. There is a lot of support coming from parents, teachers and other staff members. We just need to stay together and keep supporting each other," Gardiner said.
The Stingrays and Knights will battle on the last day of competition today at the old Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

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