BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - NOW that the track and field season is in full swing and the High Schools in the Federation are preparing for the annual TDC Inter-School Championship, the athletes of Verchild’s High School (VHS) will be looking to surpass their second place finishes achieved in the last three years.
This article serves to highlight the school’s top athletes who are expected to compete at the 2013 Championships.
The much-anticipated TDC Inter-School 2013 Championships is scheduled to be held at the Silver Jubilee Stadium from March 22 to 24. And it is touted that former champions - Charles E. Mills Secondary School and Basseterre High School (BHS) - as well as VHS would be looking to upstage defending champions Washington Archibald High School (WAHS – Washy Wildcats).
In an interview with SKNVibes, Coach Lonzo Wilkinson highlighted some of the top athletes who sports enthusiasts can look forward to from the school known as ‘The bright star in the West’.
He stated that the sprinter prospects are Curvis Collins in the 100, 200 and 400 metres and Shanice Elliot, whom he said “did pretty well” last year.
“So it will be her second year in that category. We are hoping that she will repeat in those events. She is also a good high jumper and long jumper, but we are not sure if we are going to use her in those events as yet…but definitely for the relays.”
He further gave the names of those athletes who are available for the field events.
“In the field we have Natia Wilkinson who is good at javelin and shot put. In the high jump male wise, we have O’Neal Hamilton who is a good high jumper and long jumper.
“We have Aaron Bonnier Junior who is a javelin thrower and shot-putter. For both the field and track events, we have pretty good males. Long jump, we also have Kalifa Rogers. We also have Daryl Warner who is very good at hurdling; he is also very good at long jump and high jump.”
He added,“In the senior boys category, we have Warren Hazel who dominated the junior category and is expected to replace Rico Gumbs who is no longer a student at the school.”
He also made mention of J’athanon Siliday, an athlete who possesses the talent to compete in various field events.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that the school could surpass its recent second place finishes.
“I am always confident and maybe that’s why we still can maintain our second place finishes over the past three years. We are hoping not to do that this year; we are trying and going harder this year. Every year we try to go harder. If we lose this year then it’s back to the drawing board…but we will go hard!
“We have most of the areas covered and are hoping that, inter-school coming, we can get the championship.”
Last year, Washy Wildcats retained the Inter-School Championships title, capturing 23 gold medals in the process and a cash prize of EC$5 000.
In second place was VHS with 17 gold medals and a cash prize of EC$3 000, while third place went to CEMSS with 14 gold medals and an EC$2 000 cash prize.
BHS placed fourth with 11 gold medals and EC$1 000, while Charlestown Secondary School was fifth with nine gold medals and EC$750.
CHS brought up the rear with six gold medals and EC$500.
The monetary prizes were sponsored by the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association.
