By Marc Raimondi
Alan Coles has tried to take the individuality out of track and field. The Jamaica girls’ coach prides himself on having as many athletes compete in as many different events as possible.
So, it was only fitting that nine different Beavers placed within the top three in their respective events Saturday as Jamaica won its fourth straight Queens Borough girls’ outdoor track and field championship at Bayside HS.
Coles’ team scored points in every event except the racewalk and pole vault.
“A lot of different individuals helped with the scoring times,” the coach said.
Whitney Ford won the long jump (15’7”) and the 100-meter dash (13.03 seconds) and Kortni Garcia placed first in the triple jump (31’4”). Asha Daly came in second in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:06.99) and third in the 100-meter high hurdles (15.09). Shaquana Neals finished second in the 3,000-meter run (12:08.53) and third in the 1,500 meter (5:21.12).
Jamaica also finished second in the meet’s three relays: the 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800.
“I’m looking forward to the city championships,” Coles said. “I think they’re ready.”
That date is June 8, but the pentathlon city championships are four days earlier. Jamaica has two girls – Daly and Dominique Burrus – who are in the top three in the city in the pentathlon. Unfortunately, Jamaica has its prom June 4.
“All I can do,” Coles said, “is hope it rains and pours that day.”
Townsend Harris finished second as a team and Cardozo was third.
In other girls’ events at the Queens Borough championships, Cardozo’s Dalilah Muhammad won the high jump (5’4”), the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:00.49) and the 200 meter (25.69); Campus Magnet’s Yolanda Rumph won the 400-meter run (58.21); Tessa West of Cardozo finished first in the 800 meter (2:27.04); Newtown’s Stephany Fana won the 3,000-meter run (11:20.85); Cardozo’s Alison Lee placed first in the 1,500 meter (4:51.66); Jamie Abatemarco of Townsend Harris won the 2,000-meter steeplechase (7:50.45); and Grover Cleveland’s Grace Lee placed first in the 100-meter high hurdles (24.6).
Townsend Harris won the 4×800-meter relay, Cardozo took home the 4×400-meter relay championships and Hillcrest won the 4×100.
On the boys’ side, Francis Lewis dominated for the Queens Borough team championship two days earlier at Bayside. Stewart Davis won the 100-meter dash (11.34) and the 200 meter (22.76). David Johnson placed first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:12.72) and was part of the 4×800-meter relay team – along with Corey Green, Samuel Rojas and Derrick Arroyave – that won the title.
Silvanous Parchment won the 110-meter high hurdles (16.73) and the 400-meter LH (59.86).
In other boys’ events, Chris Guerrero of Townsend Harris won the 3,200-meter run (10:18.85); Aviation’s Tafari Bucknor won the triple jump (40’5.25”); Weymour Johnson of Springfield Gardens won the high jump (5’10”) and the 400 meter (51.04); Grover Cleveland’s Rafal Ksepka finished first in the 800-meter run (1:59.11) and the 1,600 (4:36.61); and Alfred Felder of Springfield Gardens won the long jump (20’8”).
Springfield Gardens won the 4×100-meter relay and Campus Magnet won the 4×400.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Marc Raimondi by e-mail at mraimondi@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
