Lee stars at Western Champs

Published: Sunday | February 22, 2009


Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer


Dexter Lee (left) wins the boys' Class One 200m final on yesterday's final day of the three-day Milo/Western Athletics Championships at St Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz. - photo by Anthony Foster

World junior 100 metres champion Dexter Lee and his Herbert Morrison and Jamaica junior teammate Shavine Hodges were among several double winners on yesterday's final day of the three-day Milo/Western Athletics Championships at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz.

Lee, who won the World Junior title in Poland last summer and the World Youth crown a year earlier, took his first Class One sprint double, having lost the 200m in 2008 to his brother Keniel Lee, who is now at University of Technology.

Dexter Lee won the 100m in 11.12 and the 200m in 22.65, but was quick to point out that yesterday's runs were part of his training programme.

"It was a wonderful performance, knowing it's just training (exercise) gearing towards CARIFTA Trials and Champs," he said.

Hodges, who represented Jamaica at the 2007 World Youth Championships in the Czech Republic, took the 200m in 25.90 and 400m in 57.98.

However, at press time, the champions were undecided. Munro College had what seemed to be an unassailable lead while defending champions STETHS and Herbert Morrison were in a battle for the female crown.

Kaneil Harrison, however, Munro's Class Three hero, could be considered the bright spark as he raced away with the 100m, 200m and 400m titles.

girls sprint double

Melesa Teape of STETHS took the Class One girls sprint double, winning the 100m in 13.27 and 200m 26.75, while Frome's Stephanie Barrett captured the 800m and 1500m in 2:22.05 and 5:12.67, respectively.

In other results, Sadeith Palmer of Herbert Morrison took the Class Two girls 100m in 12.75 while Rolando Reid of Munro captured the boys equivalent in 11.46.

STETHS with Lashana Dennis winning in 13.14 and Carla Rowe in 13.21 took the Class Three and Four 100m events, respectively.

In the girls high jump, STETHS' pair of Peta-Gaye Reid, the winner, and Rochell Reid with 1.65m each, topped the field.