Foga Road expecting much from small team

Fogo Road High School's head coach Milton Sergeant is confident his small, but determined contingent of 11 athletes will deliver standout performances at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships. The Championships will be held at the National Stadium from March 24-28.

The Clarendon-based Fogo Road will be led by quarter-miler Shameika McLean, the reigning Class Three 400m champion, who recently captured the Under-17 title at the Carifta Trials in a personal best 53.39.

McLean will step up to Class Two at Champs, where she is heavily favoured.

"Things have been good so far because our athletes have shown tremendous improvement over this season," said Sergeant.

"In fact, from last year the performances were good, but this year they have been better for us. Last year at Champs, we did well because we won the gold medal in the Class Three girls 400 metres with Shameika McLean," he said.

"We had other performances that did not advance to the final, but they still managed to get personal best times."

Sergeant added that his athletes will be entering the championships in a positive frame of mind.

"They are prepared, they are hopeful and they are also well motivated to go out there and do well for the school and their families," he said.

Sergeant also pointed out that he is expecting strong performances from Paul Henry in the boys' Class One 400m. Henry, who was sidelined by injury last season, has shown steady improvement since returning to competition, finishing fourth in the 400m at the Carifta Trials.

"This year we are hoping to win the girls' Class Two 400 metres with McLean, who will be stepping up in class, and we also look good with Paul Henry for the boys' Class One 400 metres as well. He was injured last year, but we got him back up and he came and finished fourth at the Carifta Trials, so he has been improving and can be very serious at Champs this year," Sergeant said.

He also expects his athletes to do well in the medley relay.

"We also have a fairly good medley relay team that will do fairly well at Champs this year because we should finish in the top five in the final, once all goes to play on the day," he said.

Torri-Ann Weathley is another athlete expected to contribute, in the Class Four sprint events.

Sergeant credited the school's strong support system as a key factor behind the team's progress and confidence heading into the championships.

"Our principal, as a past athlete, certainly knows how to take care of athletes, so we have a good support system at the school," Sergeant underscored. "The entire administration staff ensures our students are well supported going into Champs."