Tweet
Central rule to continue - Holness predicts extended dominance of Champs
Published: Tuesday | March 10, 2009
Richard Dunbar (left), consumer-marketing manager at Nestlé, displays the event banner with Jerry Holness, chairman of the organising committee and coach of Manchester High, at yesterday's launch of the Milo-sponsored Central Champs at Tropics View Hotel in Mandeville. - photo by Anthony Foster
Jerry Holness, International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Level 5 elite sprint and hurdles coach, believes schools from the central region will continue to dominate the girls' section of the annual Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships.
"Things are going on here in the central region and we hope to continue this trend," said Holness.
He made the comments at yesterday's launch of the 2009 Milo Central Champs, held at Tropics View Hotel in Mandeville.
Milo pledged $1.3 million in sponsorship for this year's Championships, to be staged on Thursday and Friday at G.C. Foster College.
Richard Dunbar, consumer-marketing manager at Nestlé, said his company was pleased to be associated with this year's Championships.
Pointing to the performance of athletes from the central Jamaica at Champs, Dunbar said: "This is why Milo is proud to support the Championships."
The top four positions in the girls' segment of Champs for the last five years have been taken by Holmwood Technical, Vere Technical, Edwin Allen and Manchester High, and Holness said this will not change anytime soon.
"The top four (girls) schools at Champs will remain in central Jamaica for a long time," added Holness, the coach at Manchester High.
He pointed to some statistics showing Vere winning 23 titles, 15 of which came consecutively. Holmwood are heading for their seventh straight crown, while St Jago and Manchester High have won four and three, respectively.
However, on the boys' side, Clarendon College remain the only boys' school to win Champs.
Given this fact, Holness, who coaches Manchester's boys' and girls' teams, challenged the male coaches, including himself, to step up to the plate and challenge their corporate rivals.
"Let us challenge the Corporate Area schools," added Holness, who is also a Level 1 and 2 IAAF certified lecturer.
Holness, chairman of the organising committee, also challenged the sponsors to improve their backing.
Dead heat
"Our performances in this region warrant not only a minor increase, but a major increase," said Holness, who pointed out that over 50 per cent of the athletes in Beijing are from schools in the central region.
He pointed to the fact that Veronica Campbell-Brown (Vere), who won back-to-back Olympic 200m titles; Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker (St Jago); Kerron Stewart (St Jago), who won the 200m bronze and shared the silver in a 100m final dead heat with Sherone Simpson (Manchester High); Nesta Carter (Manchester High) and Asafa Powell (Charlemont), along with 4x400m bronze medallists Rose-Marie White and Bobbie-Gaye Wilkins (Holmwod), are also from schools from central Jamaica.
"We as a region are proud we have contributed to the nation's track and field development," said Holness.
Published: Tuesday | March 10, 2009
Richard Dunbar (left), consumer-marketing manager at Nestlé, displays the event banner with Jerry Holness, chairman of the organising committee and coach of Manchester High, at yesterday's launch of the Milo-sponsored Central Champs at Tropics View Hotel in Mandeville. - photo by Anthony Foster
Jerry Holness, International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Level 5 elite sprint and hurdles coach, believes schools from the central region will continue to dominate the girls' section of the annual Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships.
"Things are going on here in the central region and we hope to continue this trend," said Holness.
He made the comments at yesterday's launch of the 2009 Milo Central Champs, held at Tropics View Hotel in Mandeville.
Milo pledged $1.3 million in sponsorship for this year's Championships, to be staged on Thursday and Friday at G.C. Foster College.
Richard Dunbar, consumer-marketing manager at Nestlé, said his company was pleased to be associated with this year's Championships.
Pointing to the performance of athletes from the central Jamaica at Champs, Dunbar said: "This is why Milo is proud to support the Championships."
The top four positions in the girls' segment of Champs for the last five years have been taken by Holmwood Technical, Vere Technical, Edwin Allen and Manchester High, and Holness said this will not change anytime soon.
"The top four (girls) schools at Champs will remain in central Jamaica for a long time," added Holness, the coach at Manchester High.
He pointed to some statistics showing Vere winning 23 titles, 15 of which came consecutively. Holmwood are heading for their seventh straight crown, while St Jago and Manchester High have won four and three, respectively.
However, on the boys' side, Clarendon College remain the only boys' school to win Champs.
Given this fact, Holness, who coaches Manchester's boys' and girls' teams, challenged the male coaches, including himself, to step up to the plate and challenge their corporate rivals.
"Let us challenge the Corporate Area schools," added Holness, who is also a Level 1 and 2 IAAF certified lecturer.
Holness, chairman of the organising committee, also challenged the sponsors to improve their backing.
Dead heat
"Our performances in this region warrant not only a minor increase, but a major increase," said Holness, who pointed out that over 50 per cent of the athletes in Beijing are from schools in the central region.
He pointed to the fact that Veronica Campbell-Brown (Vere), who won back-to-back Olympic 200m titles; Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker (St Jago); Kerron Stewart (St Jago), who won the 200m bronze and shared the silver in a 100m final dead heat with Sherone Simpson (Manchester High); Nesta Carter (Manchester High) and Asafa Powell (Charlemont), along with 4x400m bronze medallists Rose-Marie White and Bobbie-Gaye Wilkins (Holmwod), are also from schools from central Jamaica.
"We as a region are proud we have contributed to the nation's track and field development," said Holness.
Comment