The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Three gold medals for Bridgeport

MEDALLISTS: Jazeel Murphy (centre) Bridgeport High School's Gold and Silver medalist in the Class Three boys 100m, and 200m, pose with team-mates, Odaine Chisholm (right), the discus Class One boy champion, and bronze medallist, Kerry Espit in the Class Two boys shot put, at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships at the National Stadium last Saturday. - Anthony Minott

The Bridgeport High pair of sprinter Jazeel Murphy and shot putter Odaine Chisholm made Portmore proud as they brought home gold medals from the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships at the National Stadium last Saturday.

Murphy, a gifted Class Three boy sprinter, got silver and gold in the 100m and 200m, respectively. His shinning moment came in the 200m final where he blew away the field running in an outer lane. With about 30 metres to go, he even had time to beat his chest and looked across at his nemesis, Adam Cummings in a inner lane, before powering away in a fast 22.62 seconds. The silver went to Wolmer's Odean Skeen in 23.02, while Cummings took third in 23.28.

Favoured

The 200m victory was a reprieve for Murphy, who took silver on Friday evening in the 100m, a race he was favoured to win. He got up late out of the blocks and had to fight to stay with Cummings who won in a new record of 10.91 seconds. Murphy's 10.97 seconds run was also below the record coming into Champs '08.

The previous record of 10.99 was held by Winston Barnes of JC (2003), now a Class One athlete. Murphy, returned to anchor his 4x100m relay team to fifth place.

Earlier, Class One boys' shot putter Odaine Chisholm gave Bridgeport their first gold medal of the meet. Chisholm, the CARIFTA Trials champion, threw 16.44 metres to land gold over Calabar's Noel Facey.

It was, however, Class Two shot put thrower Kerry Espit who captured the school's first medal, which was done on the penultimate day. He threw 14.53m for third, beaten by the Calabar High pair of Rojay Dacres (15.34m), and Richard Wilson (14.75m).

Bridgeport was the best-place local school, amassing 42 points for 8th position, while Greater Portmore, with a fairly young squad, placed 18th with 11 points. Greater Portmore's Rando Gunn made both the 800m (2:01) and 1500m (4:14) final placing fifth in the the later and sixth in the former. His teammate Class Three athlete Preston Bowen surprised many by leaping to fifth place with 6.03m in the long jump event.

Calabar High School won the Boys' section with 277.5 points, beating rivals KC's 233 points.