Penwood on the rise in track and field

SEVERAL non-traditional high schools are making their marks this season in track and field. One such institution is Penwood High School, under rookie coach Derol Gardener. His athletes, especially the girls, have been doing very well.

Gardener, in his first season at the helm, will be hoping his team can secure their first points at next month's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships (Champs).

At last weekend's Corporate Area Championships, Penwood's Shakeya Reid who has been doing well in the 400m hurdles this season, was the runner-up in the Class One Girls' 100m, posting a personal best 11.83 seconds behind the outstanding Tiana Marshall of Wolmer's Girls' who won in 11.68. Reid relegated the very experienced Shevie-Ann Shim of Immaculate Conception to third.

Reid was unfortunate not to have gain another individual medal. After posting a personal best 1:02.61 in the preliminary round of the 400m hurdles open to be the fastest qualifier going into the final, she failed to finish the event.

Other athletes who showed good form for Penwood at the meet include Natalia Moore, who was sixth in the Class Three 80m hurdles in 12.13 seconds, and Shaera Thorpe, who produced a personal best 26.10 seconds for a seventh-place finish in the Class Three 200m.

The 34-year-old Gardener, who also had stints at St Catherine High where he spent four years, along with one season at Gaynstead High, was very pleased with his athletes' performances and is looking forward to next month's Champs.

"I am very proud of these kids and others who are doing well, seeing that they are coming from a non-traditional school with little or no success in the sport. My job is not only to help them on the track but also in the classroom so that in the end they can qualify for athletic scholarships to colleges or universities," said Gardener.

A graduate of The Mico University College, he had high praises for the support he is receiving.

"I must commend the head of Physical Education, Andre Burke, and the parents for the support they have given and their belief in the programme," he stated.

Gardener shared how he got into coaching.

"In my younger days, I was impressed with the form of sprint hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London and that motivated me. Also, while attending Mico, I used to watch the Kingston College hurdlers, including Omar McLeod, who used to train at Mico," said Gardener, who specialises in the sprints and hurdles events.

- Raymond Graham