Secondary Schools' Track & Field 

Toco Secondary on course to retain North East Zonal title.

by Clayton Clarke (Sportscore Tobago); February 9. 2017

Sangre Grande Secondary

Matura Secondary

Toco Secondary

North Eastern College

Toco Secondary are well ahead to be hold on to the champion school titleof the North East Secondary Schools Track and  Field Zonal Championships. With all events except for the pole vault and hurdles events left completed Toco Secondary are on 1234 points,  more than than 500 points ahead of current second place Sangre Grande Secondary (685). Holy Cross (407.50), Matura Secondary (234.50) and Arima Central Secondary (228) are other the top five schools at the moment. At the championships which took place at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar (track events-Wednesday, February 1) and the Toco Secondary School Grounds in Toco (field events-Thu February 2) Toco Secondary dominated the girls division scoring 691 points, more than double the score of runners-up Sangre Grande Secondary (278) and Arima Central Secondary (148). In the boys competition Toco Secondary again came out victorious (543) but were pushed by Holy Cross College (407.50) and Sangre Grande Secondary (407).

Toco, the reigning national secondary schools Championships schools winners, outshone their competitors in the girls over 18 division winning eight of the twelve gold medals. Akidah Briggs (shot put, discus, javelin) and Delicia Thom (long jump and high jump) were responsible for five titles. Mickayla Ottley (800m), Donicia Antoine (1500m) and the 4x400m teams also struck gold. Briggs also landed the girls open hammer title and Thom the girls open triple jump crown. Ariel Hackshaw (100m/200m) was a double champion for Arima North Secondary while Mpule St. Louis (400m) and the 4x100m ensured Arima Central Secondary finished with two gold medals.

In the under 16 girls, Jada James (200m/400m) and Jusonya Fifi (shot/discus) won four of the eight of Toco Secondary's titles.  Under 14 runner Xea Bruce (800m),  Fay-Ann Johnson (1500m) 4x100m, 4x400m were the other winners for Toco. Twanna Homeward (long jump) and Celine La Rose (javelin) won for Matura Secondary while Trishelle McLaren (high jump) secured gold for Matelot Community College.  Among the girls under 14 competitors Bruce (400m/long jump) led the way for Toco. Tanya Pavy (javelin), Tyler Shears (high jump) and the 4x100m team were successful for the champions. Mercedes Solarzano (100m/200m) and Kyla Ahyong (shot put) brought glory for Arima Cental Secondary with their wins. The battle in the girls under 16 division was keen as Toco Secondary and Sangre Grande Secondary won four gold medal each. Cheziah Phillip (200m), Allia Friday (discus) and the 4x100m and 4x400m teams were triumphant for Toco. Camille Lewis (800m/1500m, high jump/javelin) won all four Sangre Grande's gold medals. North Eastern College finished with three titles courtesy McKenzy Baptiste (100m), Aaliyah Mitchell (400m) and the 4x100m team.

In the boys over 18 competition, Toco  Secondary are heading the standings with 10 of 13 gold medals on offer. Double Carifta silver medallist Tyrel Edwards  led the way with victories in the 100m and 200m.  (Jeremiah Hamilton (400m/800m), Terrel  Paul (triple jump), Andrew Nicholas (high jump), Troy Richards (long jump) and the 4x100m and 4x400m teams all were winners for Toco. Elton John (javelin) of Maura Secondary and the Holy Cross pair of Darren James (shot put ) and Keil Mc Neil (discus) prevented a Toco sweep of all the titles.

Holy Cross took top honours in the boys under 18 category with Joel Andrews (long jump/high jump/discus), Tyrese Bernard (800m/1500m) and Dwayne Simon (shot put) securing gold. Sangre Grande Secondary ended with three gold medals via Zidane Charles (400m), 4x100m and 4x400m teams. Tyrese James (100m) and Valentonio Elder (triple jump) were victors for Toco.  The contest in the boys under 16 division was close with Toco Secondary taking the titles: Michael Stanley (1500m), Deveon Callender (long jump) and the 4x400m team. Mishak Peters of Adonis Academy Private (200m/400m) secured his school's two gold medals  while Lorenzo Luces (high jump) and the 4x100m team were champs for Holy Cross. Guaico Secondary's Javier D'Abreau (javelin) and Umar Sandy (discus) brought glory for their school.  Sangre Grande Secondary outclassed their rivals in the boys under 14 field. Asiel Gonzales (100m/400m/long jump) and Jahiem Hector (200m/javelin) all six of their schools titles. Luke Bertrand (shot put) and Garth Noreiga (high jump) took gold for Holy Cross. Toco's lone gold came in the 4x100m.

The top two finishers in the zone will compete in the National Secondary Schools Championships set for the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo in April.  The St. Patrick Zonal Championships are expected to be concluded. The Field events were held at the Palo Secondary Schools Grounds, Palo  Seco on January 25 and the track events at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on February 1. However, the javelin and long jump disciplines are yet to be held.

The South Eastern Zonal Championships get underway on February 9 with the field events at the Princes Town West Secondary School. The Track events will be contested on February 17 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.  

Below are Collages of athletes from some of the competing schools 
Photos courtesy: Tyrese Trotman, Enrique Asoon, Nathaniel Joseph, Adiel Gonzales and Tyron Davidson (Sangre Grande Secondary) 

Holy Cross College