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Victorious Team Bickle All-Star relay squads reflect on big, fast victories in Jamaica
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 - National Stadium, Kingston JAM
Results - Girls - Boys - Highlights
courtesy of jaaaltd.com (more results here)
TEAM REFLECTIONS Below - Original press release
At left, the winning 4x400 squad of (from left) Briana Nelson, Whitney Fountain, Claudia Francis and Phyllis Francis. Submitted by Kiya Fountain
At right, the winning 4x800 squad of (from left) Claudia Francis, Phyllis Francis, Marielle Hall, and Chelsey Sveinsson. Submitted by Kim Francis
Highlights
Above, the Team Bickle boys 4x800m (Keith Griffith, John Schilkowski, Bronson
Duran, Jr., Julian Wood) placed 4th with a time of 7:50.32. At right, Elizabeth Briasco and Dana Walsh were 6th and 10th in the mile. The 4x400m ran 3:19.53 in the prelims. (Schilksowski, Lucas Chaya, Wood, Keith Griffith). Photos submitted by Kim Francis
The whole crew - photo submitted by Kim Francis
The 4x8 champs with Team Bickle president Irwine Claire - photo submitted by Kim Francis
Reflections from Jamaica
To follow-up on Team Bickle's victorious adventure at the Gibson Relays, we asked the six girls who competed on the two winning relays to share their thoughts about the trip
Whitney Fountain, Pelham Prep NY Academy senior, 4x400 leadoff
My leg(s) – I thought I was going to start in a lower lane, because we were in 6th place out of 8 after the trials. I was hoping the top teams were in-front of me, not behind. It took no time to adjust, however, and I understand that at the end of the day it’s just a 400. I felt eager to run the race and excited to run first leg again because I like to race people 1-D. My goal was to get my teammate the baton first “by any means necessary” and I did. All I knew is I didn’t want to see anyone. Because if I did, that meant I’m in trouble. Overall, I feel I executed the way I should have.
The thrill of victory – It was payback time! We came in third last year, which left a salty taste in my mouth. I didn’t risk having my mom drive through a snowstorm, wait 4 hours on a delayed flight, fly to Jamaica, go through customs and immigration to come home with nothing again! Only 1st place gets a prize. I knew no matter what, we were coming home with medals and Gibson Relay 2010 watches. Most people only had faith in the 4x8 bringing in the gold, which was like a smack in the face to me. What are we, chopped liver? I don’t think so. We had a point to prove. No matter what and with whoever, we would be victorious!
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – It was definitely exciting to win on our competitor’s soil. The tables were now turned and both relays won. Last year both teams had to settle for 3rd. Once we won, some spectator was accusing us of being college students instead of simply just a few of Americas’ finest.
I competed at the Penn Relays for the first time last year. The big difference in running at the Gibson Relays and the Penn Relays is the weather. It’s warm in Jamaica. I was cold at the Penn Relays. At Penn people know me and are cheering for both the US athletes and Jamaican athletes. There were very few people cheering for us in Jamaica. It wasn’t as friendly as last year when we lost.
A unique international trip – Last year I was more excited because it was my first time out of my country. This year I was simply on a mission.
Marielle Hall, Haddonfield NJ senior, 4x800 1st leg
My leg(s) – I was happy with my leg. I just wanted to be able to go out there and compete for the team, and put us in the best possible position to be able to compete to win. I went into the race hoping to be able to pull away from the field towards the end to give us a lead, and a small advantage for the remainder of the three legs, so when I did that I was happy with my part.
The thrill of victory – I am very happy with the success we were able to accomplish, not only in the 4x800, but also in the 4x400. All the girls that competed are unique individuals and being on a team with them, representing our country and winning was a great feeling. Individual accomplishments are always different from team situations, and I am always happy to be apart of something bigger than myself. So competing, and winning there was a moment that I will remember forever.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – The crowd there was exciting. I’ve never run in a race where I knew that basically everyone out there was rooting against me, so that was definitely different, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The Gibson Relays were comparable to Penn in that the meet featured each country’s premier high school athletes, and some professional individuals, but the crowd there was more alive then any meet I have experienced.
A unique international trip – What set this trip apart for me was to see how much respect people had for running there. Everyone loved and followed the sport. Meeting people who understand and respect what you do is always encouraging for me, so being confronted with a country full of people who felt this way was exciting and motivational for me. Getting to see Usain Bolt warm up was pretty mind-boggling, too. I may have encroached a little bit on stalker status but getting to see him in person, watch him race, and just see how much his country respected him and his abilities as an athlete was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Phyllis Francis, McAuley NY senior, 4x800 1st leg, 4x400 2nd leg
My leg - I made sure I stayed within striking distance when I handed the baton off to Chelsey. I wish I could have opened up my lead a little more at one point. I guess I made up for that in the 4x400m, where I made sure I held a lead to pass to Claudia.
The thrill of victory - I was ecstatic! I couldn’t believe that we came in first in the 4x800m and then my sister and I ran with Whitney and Brianna in the 4x400m – all in less than a 40-minute time frame. It was hard to make that comeback mentally because the crowd was not too happy with our 4x800m victory, but with a group of team mates that have experience running outside of the U.S.A. I kind of knew we were going to make our mark. It was a great feeling. I still smile when I think of the two races.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – It’s kind of nerve-racking because all the seats in the stadium are filled up with people to see the relays – and they were not rooting for us. It is like you are on your own out there with your teammates. The competition was also intense because the other relay teams there are very aggressive when they compete on the track; it’s a different feel from the United States. It gives me the confidence that I can compete in other countries. I didn’t really compete in Penn Relays, but I have been
there. The experience is not the same as Gibson Relays.
A unique international trip – I had a great time. The weather was beautiful and the people were nice. I had a chance to get to meet people, go to the beach and just have some great fun with some of my new friends that were on my team. We may be serious on the track and compete against each other now, or in college, but once we’re off the track we are friends.
Chelsey Sveinsson, Greenhill School TX junior, 4x800 3rd leg
My leg(s) – I felt like I ran a great leg in the relay. I only had three weeks of running on my legs before the meet (recovering from injury). I was really worried that I was not going to be ready and that I was going to disappoint the coaches and my teammates. On the other hand, the previous week my school team had a 600m time trial, and my time converted was a 2:12 800m, so I had an idea of what I was capable of running. So I was able to pull out a good time and I am glad to start the season with a 2:10 800m, but I'm looking forward to significantly lower my time, whether it is in a relay or an individual race.
The thrill of victory –When I got the hotel, my teammate Marielle Hall showed me an article about the Gibson Relays in a Jamaican newspaper. In the article, our coach was quoted to have said that he was 100 percent sure that our relay team was going to win. However, the girls and I didn't feel the same way. We knew that we had a target on our backs and that everyone attending that stadium was cheering for us to lose. Yes, it was intimidating but I was more excited to prove them wrong than nervous.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – It was one of the most exciting track meets I have ever been to. The crowd was amazing! I had never seen that many people so passionate about track. From the time I arrived at the airport, the customs officer, the taxi driver, and the immigration clerk all said that they were going to the meet. At the stadium, there was definitely an excitement in the air that I've never experienced before. I was taken aback as to how popular the high school races were with the crowd. They were as excited about the high school races are they were about the professionals.
A unique international trip – The trip was a good experience. The weather was perfect!!! Sunny and 80's. The first night at the hotel was karaoke night and I sang. Sadly, my dreams of being the next American Idol were dashed on the spot when I realized I could not sing. The food there was good, too. I had lots of fresh fruit and jerk chicken. My mom also came with me to the meet, so we got to spend some time together walking through the city. The best part of the trip was seeing my friends from the USATF Youth team from last year. It was great catching up and hanging out with each other in our free time
Briana Nelson, J.L. Mann SC senior, 4x400 anchor leg
My leg(s) – I felt really good about my relay legs. In the prelims, I ran second leg, and in the finals, I ran anchor leg. I was a little nervous about running second leg because I always run last leg, but everything ended up working out.
The thrill of victory – I felt really good about how well we did and was really satisfied with the outcome. I always knew that we had a chance to wi,n but after we finished third in our prelim heat; I was a little nervous about running in the finals. It was definitely one of my biggest thrills, and it was very exciting to run.
The electric atmosphere – It was very exciting competing at the national stadium. Since track is such a big sport in Jamaica, a lot of people came out to watch the meet. There were about 45,000 people watching the 4x4 finals, and it was very different being in a setting where everyone was cheering – but not for you. I've never competed in Penn Relays, but I'm sure it was just as exciting.
A unique international trip – The trip was great overall. I had never been to Jamaica before, and it was a great experience. I competed in Italy last summer, and this meet was just as competitive. One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to a beautiful Jamaican beach.
Claudia Francis, Benjamin Cardozo NY junior, 4x800 anchor leg
My leg(s) – Running anchor leg really made me a little nervous because anything could happen – which makes it your decision to determine the overall position of the team at the end. I wasn’t thinking about what time I was going to run, I just knew we all are good runners and when I was up, I knew I had to go all out for the team because we were representing the USA. After coming home from the last international race in Italy and experiencing the way the competition is, I had something to prove to myself.
The thrill of victory – The stadium was huge, the vibe from the audience was intense, and the excitement gave me a drive to carry the team.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – Competing with athletes from Jamaica gave me a feeling that they take the game seriously; they are very competitive and run their hardest until they reach a limit where they can’t run anymore.
A unique international trip – The trip overall was a good experience. The crowd screamed their lungs out for their teams and their country to win. This meet was very competitive. This was a good meet because I got a chance to reunite with other athletes that made it to Ital,y and we had another opportunity to represent the USA as a relay team and not competing separately. My favorite parts of the trip was going to the beach and relaxing with everyone after the race, meeting new people, singing karaoke and, of course, the Jamaican food.
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 - National Stadium, Kingston JAM
Results - Girls - Boys - Highlights
courtesy of jaaaltd.com (more results here)
TEAM REFLECTIONS Below - Original press release
At left, the winning 4x400 squad of (from left) Briana Nelson, Whitney Fountain, Claudia Francis and Phyllis Francis. Submitted by Kiya Fountain
At right, the winning 4x800 squad of (from left) Claudia Francis, Phyllis Francis, Marielle Hall, and Chelsey Sveinsson. Submitted by Kim Francis
Highlights
- The Team Bickle 4x800 girls used three consistently strong legs from Marielle Hall NJ (2:13+), Phyllis Francis NY (2:11+), Chelsey Sveinsson TX (2:10+), and then got a closing 2:05+ from Claudia Francis NY for a dominant 8:41.92 victory - winning by nearly 10 seconds over Edwin Allen. Third was more than 19 seconds back. Edwin Allen has won the last two 4x8s in the Penn Relays, with 8:44.06 last year and a record 8:41.92 in 2008 ahead of US-record setting Eleanor Roosevelt. Roosevelt had beaten Holmwood Tech in their dramatic 2007 win.
- The Team Bickle 4x400 girls received a 54-low leadoff leg from Whitney Fountain NY, reportedly taking the lead out of lane nine, and ran to a decisive victory in 3:37.23. Fountain and the two Francises all ran 54-points, and anchor Briana Nelson SC was 53+.
Above, the Team Bickle boys 4x800m (Keith Griffith, John Schilkowski, Bronson
Duran, Jr., Julian Wood) placed 4th with a time of 7:50.32. At right, Elizabeth Briasco and Dana Walsh were 6th and 10th in the mile. The 4x400m ran 3:19.53 in the prelims. (Schilksowski, Lucas Chaya, Wood, Keith Griffith). Photos submitted by Kim Francis
The whole crew - photo submitted by Kim Francis
The 4x8 champs with Team Bickle president Irwine Claire - photo submitted by Kim Francis
Reflections from Jamaica
To follow-up on Team Bickle's victorious adventure at the Gibson Relays, we asked the six girls who competed on the two winning relays to share their thoughts about the trip
- How they felt about their individual relay legs
- What were their feelings about the impressive victories in the Jamaican national stadium and how it ranks among their biggest thrills
- What the atmosphere was like competing there and if it similar to the Penn Relays experience (for those who have competed there)
- What the international trip and experience was like, overall
Whitney Fountain, Pelham Prep NY Academy senior, 4x400 leadoff
My leg(s) – I thought I was going to start in a lower lane, because we were in 6th place out of 8 after the trials. I was hoping the top teams were in-front of me, not behind. It took no time to adjust, however, and I understand that at the end of the day it’s just a 400. I felt eager to run the race and excited to run first leg again because I like to race people 1-D. My goal was to get my teammate the baton first “by any means necessary” and I did. All I knew is I didn’t want to see anyone. Because if I did, that meant I’m in trouble. Overall, I feel I executed the way I should have.
The thrill of victory – It was payback time! We came in third last year, which left a salty taste in my mouth. I didn’t risk having my mom drive through a snowstorm, wait 4 hours on a delayed flight, fly to Jamaica, go through customs and immigration to come home with nothing again! Only 1st place gets a prize. I knew no matter what, we were coming home with medals and Gibson Relay 2010 watches. Most people only had faith in the 4x8 bringing in the gold, which was like a smack in the face to me. What are we, chopped liver? I don’t think so. We had a point to prove. No matter what and with whoever, we would be victorious!
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – It was definitely exciting to win on our competitor’s soil. The tables were now turned and both relays won. Last year both teams had to settle for 3rd. Once we won, some spectator was accusing us of being college students instead of simply just a few of Americas’ finest.
I competed at the Penn Relays for the first time last year. The big difference in running at the Gibson Relays and the Penn Relays is the weather. It’s warm in Jamaica. I was cold at the Penn Relays. At Penn people know me and are cheering for both the US athletes and Jamaican athletes. There were very few people cheering for us in Jamaica. It wasn’t as friendly as last year when we lost.
A unique international trip – Last year I was more excited because it was my first time out of my country. This year I was simply on a mission.
Marielle Hall, Haddonfield NJ senior, 4x800 1st leg
My leg(s) – I was happy with my leg. I just wanted to be able to go out there and compete for the team, and put us in the best possible position to be able to compete to win. I went into the race hoping to be able to pull away from the field towards the end to give us a lead, and a small advantage for the remainder of the three legs, so when I did that I was happy with my part.
The thrill of victory – I am very happy with the success we were able to accomplish, not only in the 4x800, but also in the 4x400. All the girls that competed are unique individuals and being on a team with them, representing our country and winning was a great feeling. Individual accomplishments are always different from team situations, and I am always happy to be apart of something bigger than myself. So competing, and winning there was a moment that I will remember forever.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – The crowd there was exciting. I’ve never run in a race where I knew that basically everyone out there was rooting against me, so that was definitely different, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The Gibson Relays were comparable to Penn in that the meet featured each country’s premier high school athletes, and some professional individuals, but the crowd there was more alive then any meet I have experienced.
A unique international trip – What set this trip apart for me was to see how much respect people had for running there. Everyone loved and followed the sport. Meeting people who understand and respect what you do is always encouraging for me, so being confronted with a country full of people who felt this way was exciting and motivational for me. Getting to see Usain Bolt warm up was pretty mind-boggling, too. I may have encroached a little bit on stalker status but getting to see him in person, watch him race, and just see how much his country respected him and his abilities as an athlete was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Phyllis Francis, McAuley NY senior, 4x800 1st leg, 4x400 2nd leg
My leg - I made sure I stayed within striking distance when I handed the baton off to Chelsey. I wish I could have opened up my lead a little more at one point. I guess I made up for that in the 4x400m, where I made sure I held a lead to pass to Claudia.
The thrill of victory - I was ecstatic! I couldn’t believe that we came in first in the 4x800m and then my sister and I ran with Whitney and Brianna in the 4x400m – all in less than a 40-minute time frame. It was hard to make that comeback mentally because the crowd was not too happy with our 4x800m victory, but with a group of team mates that have experience running outside of the U.S.A. I kind of knew we were going to make our mark. It was a great feeling. I still smile when I think of the two races.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – It’s kind of nerve-racking because all the seats in the stadium are filled up with people to see the relays – and they were not rooting for us. It is like you are on your own out there with your teammates. The competition was also intense because the other relay teams there are very aggressive when they compete on the track; it’s a different feel from the United States. It gives me the confidence that I can compete in other countries. I didn’t really compete in Penn Relays, but I have been
there. The experience is not the same as Gibson Relays.
A unique international trip – I had a great time. The weather was beautiful and the people were nice. I had a chance to get to meet people, go to the beach and just have some great fun with some of my new friends that were on my team. We may be serious on the track and compete against each other now, or in college, but once we’re off the track we are friends.
Chelsey Sveinsson, Greenhill School TX junior, 4x800 3rd leg
My leg(s) – I felt like I ran a great leg in the relay. I only had three weeks of running on my legs before the meet (recovering from injury). I was really worried that I was not going to be ready and that I was going to disappoint the coaches and my teammates. On the other hand, the previous week my school team had a 600m time trial, and my time converted was a 2:12 800m, so I had an idea of what I was capable of running. So I was able to pull out a good time and I am glad to start the season with a 2:10 800m, but I'm looking forward to significantly lower my time, whether it is in a relay or an individual race.
The thrill of victory –When I got the hotel, my teammate Marielle Hall showed me an article about the Gibson Relays in a Jamaican newspaper. In the article, our coach was quoted to have said that he was 100 percent sure that our relay team was going to win. However, the girls and I didn't feel the same way. We knew that we had a target on our backs and that everyone attending that stadium was cheering for us to lose. Yes, it was intimidating but I was more excited to prove them wrong than nervous.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – It was one of the most exciting track meets I have ever been to. The crowd was amazing! I had never seen that many people so passionate about track. From the time I arrived at the airport, the customs officer, the taxi driver, and the immigration clerk all said that they were going to the meet. At the stadium, there was definitely an excitement in the air that I've never experienced before. I was taken aback as to how popular the high school races were with the crowd. They were as excited about the high school races are they were about the professionals.
A unique international trip – The trip was a good experience. The weather was perfect!!! Sunny and 80's. The first night at the hotel was karaoke night and I sang. Sadly, my dreams of being the next American Idol were dashed on the spot when I realized I could not sing. The food there was good, too. I had lots of fresh fruit and jerk chicken. My mom also came with me to the meet, so we got to spend some time together walking through the city. The best part of the trip was seeing my friends from the USATF Youth team from last year. It was great catching up and hanging out with each other in our free time
Briana Nelson, J.L. Mann SC senior, 4x400 anchor leg
My leg(s) – I felt really good about my relay legs. In the prelims, I ran second leg, and in the finals, I ran anchor leg. I was a little nervous about running second leg because I always run last leg, but everything ended up working out.
The thrill of victory – I felt really good about how well we did and was really satisfied with the outcome. I always knew that we had a chance to wi,n but after we finished third in our prelim heat; I was a little nervous about running in the finals. It was definitely one of my biggest thrills, and it was very exciting to run.
The electric atmosphere – It was very exciting competing at the national stadium. Since track is such a big sport in Jamaica, a lot of people came out to watch the meet. There were about 45,000 people watching the 4x4 finals, and it was very different being in a setting where everyone was cheering – but not for you. I've never competed in Penn Relays, but I'm sure it was just as exciting.
A unique international trip – The trip was great overall. I had never been to Jamaica before, and it was a great experience. I competed in Italy last summer, and this meet was just as competitive. One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to a beautiful Jamaican beach.
Claudia Francis, Benjamin Cardozo NY junior, 4x800 anchor leg
My leg(s) – Running anchor leg really made me a little nervous because anything could happen – which makes it your decision to determine the overall position of the team at the end. I wasn’t thinking about what time I was going to run, I just knew we all are good runners and when I was up, I knew I had to go all out for the team because we were representing the USA. After coming home from the last international race in Italy and experiencing the way the competition is, I had something to prove to myself.
The thrill of victory – The stadium was huge, the vibe from the audience was intense, and the excitement gave me a drive to carry the team.
The electric atmosphere, kind of like Penn? – Competing with athletes from Jamaica gave me a feeling that they take the game seriously; they are very competitive and run their hardest until they reach a limit where they can’t run anymore.
A unique international trip – The trip overall was a good experience. The crowd screamed their lungs out for their teams and their country to win. This meet was very competitive. This was a good meet because I got a chance to reunite with other athletes that made it to Ital,y and we had another opportunity to represent the USA as a relay team and not competing separately. My favorite parts of the trip was going to the beach and relaxing with everyone after the race, meeting new people, singing karaoke and, of course, the Jamaican food.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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