The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: GC Foster in the spotlight

Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

WITH the high school teams taking centre stage at the annual Penn Relays, the performances of local College teams like GC Foster College and the University of Technology sometimes go unnoticed.

Following the performances of four young ladies from GC Foster at this year's Penn Relays it is likely that in the future more attention will be focused here as the local colleges go head to head with institutions in the United States.

GC Foster College's quartet of Schillonie Calvert, Rosemarie Whyte, Anastasia LeRoy and Sudian Davis finished third on two occasions to powerhouse Louisiana State University (LSU) and Texas A&M University in the Championship of America College University 4x100m and 4x200m.

Fastest time ever

When they posted 43.31 seconds to finish third in the 4x100 metres it became the fastest time ever by a Jamaican college team at the meet. Only the big two who produced sub- 43 seconds were able to defeat the Jamaican team. In finishing third they upstaged several big name American universities.

Although their third-place time of 1:34.05 in the 4x200m was not as impressive as their 4x100m clocking, only Texas A&M 1:31.21 and LSU 1:31.77 were able to defeat them.

The colleges which defeated GC Foster College were helped by the inclusion of Jamaicans. Former Vere Technical star Simone Facey was a member of the Texas team while The Queen's School's past student, Samantha Henry ran in LSU's colours.

In individual events among college athletes, three Jamaicans were victorious.

The University of Technology's Shelly Ann Frazier who ran in the preliminary rounds of the 4x100m at last year's World Championships in Osaka was very impressive in winning the college women's 100m. Running against a minus-4.1 mps wind she won in 11.86 seconds, beating Texas University's Alexandria Anderson (11.90) into second place.

Nickeisha Wilson continued her good form in the 100m hurdles. The former Alpha Academy star won the college event in 13.03.

Former Vere Technical High athlete, Kimberly Williams, who won the high school triple jump event two years a row for Vere Technical, made it three in a row but this time at a different school. Competing for Florida State University, Williams captured the college event with a leap of 13.42m.