ON HYPE, HYSTERIA AND THE BLACK SWAN

THE CLASH THAT WASN'T


THE CLASH THAT WAS

MUNRO ATHLETES WIN INAUGURAL SCHOLARSHIP

MCTF TAKES TWO OF THE VERY FIRST AT UWI

Two graduating Munro College Track and Field team members, Cosmo "Spotty" Stephens (Team Captain and Head of Dickenson House) and Andrene "Petrol" Nelson (Head Prefect) have won inaugural track scholarships to the University of the West Indies (UWI). They were acknowledged along with three other scholarship recipients yesterday at a press conference held in the UWI Visitors' Lounge.

Both have been natural leaders throughout their careers at Munro and we have no doubt they will continue to be so at UWI, where Cosmo will pursue a degree in Management Studies and Andrene in International Relations. Spotty and Petrol entered Munro on the same day and have been members of the school's track team since their first year. They developed deep records of accomplishment over the years, particularly at the Western Championships where both have picked up numerous titles in the jumps, middle distance and sprint events.


MCTF is incredibly proud of these young men and congratulate them on their fantastic achievement. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Regards,
BC Hayden

PICS: (L-R in both) Cosmo Stephens and Andrene Nelson

***More to come later***

MUNRO ATHLETES TAKE THREE NATIONAL TITLES

MUNTHROW COLLEGE AGAIN
This past weekend Munro Track and Field sent eight representatives to the National Junior Championships. We came away with three gold, two silver and one bronze, all from the throwing events.

Rajae Gayle (left) continued his fantastic run for the 2008 season with gold medal winning performances and personal bests in the U-17 Shot Put and Discus. Gayle threw 49.85m in the discus and 15.79m in the shot to take the double in the National Championships. This adds to his discus gold and shot put bronze from this year's Carifta Games.

First-year Class II man Emmanuel Oniya (below right) took silver and bronze in the U-17 Shot and Discus respectively with throws of 12.86m and 40.83m. We must also make special mention of our Class III thrower Jevaughn Shaw, who just missed out on the medals with fourth place performances in both events.

In the 17-19 category, Omar "Big Shot" Bryan took the Discus Championship with a throw of 48.42m. This adds to his Penn Relays Discus bronze from earlier this April. Bryan will also compete at the National Senior Championships where he will throw the 2K Discus alongside former MC and National Thrower, Rory Marsh.

Much thanks to Dr. Gwyn Jones for the preparation of the throwers.

Pictures (L-R: Rajae Gayle and Emmanuel Oniya)

B.C. Hayden

BOLT SMASHES 100m WORLD RECORD

USAIN BOLT DROPS A 9.76 BOMB !!!

BOLT STEALS THE SHOW (and this report)
Munro College Track and Field performed its last relay event for the 2008 season at the Jamaica International Invitational last night at the National Stadium. We fielded a team of Andrene "Petrol" Nelson, Shawn Manboard, Jodirae Blackwood and Rolando "Midnight" Reid in the High School Boys 4x400m and finished 4th in a time of 3:19:32. We commend the team and coaches on a much improved season and wish them the best for 2009 and beyond.

And now for the thunder. Usain Bolt dropped a 9.76 (1.8w) over 100m last night and squarely captured the hearts and minds of a nationalistic Jamaican crowd. It was a performance that left the casual fan elated and the sport's "intelligencia" awe struck. With Asafa Powell sustaining a disturbing early season injury many were left to believe that a particular US sprinter would canter his way through to the gold medal at the Olympic Games later this August. Young Bolt, 21, has quite possibly put that nervous theory to rest. We sincerely hope that Asafa bounces back to full-fitness to face Bolt at this year's trials and the world in Beijing.

THE MYTH BREAKER


Needless to say that this recent phenomenon bodes well for our national sprint relay team as well. We now have the deepest national pool in years, perhaps ever, with Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Michael Frater, Marvin Anderson, Steve Mullings, Nesta Carter, Dwight Thomas, Chris Williams and Clement Campbell all running 10.1x or better. With a group like this one might eschew desire of the August flat final for the one in late June right here at the Stadium. It should be the best National Trials ever.

It was good for the young Munronians to witness such a feat from one of their very own from Western Jamaica. Bolt, the former William Knibb athlete, continues to perpetuate the sport's maxim of "speed begets speed and excellence begets excellence". What the young ones see, the young ones do and will eventually do better. Both Rolando "Midnight" Reid and Adam "Redz" Cummings were in the stadium last night. Reid won last year's Class III 100m final and Cummings this year's in a record time of 10.91. Both should have been duly inspired. On a similar note, Omar Bryan, recent discus bronze medalist at the Penn Relays, performed the role of "Measuring Official" during the shot put event won by national record holder Dorian Scott (20.51m).

Until next time, enjoy the video of Bolt's Bomb above (courtesy of Raffic Shaw). Complete results for the meet can be found here: 2008 Jamaica International Invitational Meet

Photo Source: Trackshark.com

B.C. Hayden ('87)
Team Manager

Bolt Follows with 9.92 at T&T's Hampton Games

OMAR BRYAN WINS PENN RELAYS DISCUS BRONZE

Big Bryan Led the Way
Munro College has returned from the 115th Penn Relays Carnival a bit lighter in the medal category than we had hoped for. We did not return empty handed, however, as reigning CAC U-17 Discus Champion and Record Holder, Omar Bryan, took third place in the High School Boys Discus Competition with a throw of 50.48m (165-7). This placed him first among all Jamaican athletes entered in the event. We offer up special congratulations to Omar, his coach Dr. Gwyn Jones and Michael Vassell who helped guide all the Jamaican throwers during the competition in Philadelphia.

We started out well initially on the track. In the 4x100m heat we were ahead by a tremendous distance and were well on our way to a season's beast in the region of 41.5 or better when our anchor man, Moses Watkis, strained his hamstring muscle and bravely limped across the line for 2nd place in a time of 43.51 (click here for video - MC is in Lane 2). While we had no injuries for the 4x400m a lack of focus possibly led to the rather pedestrian time of 3:21:50 almost a full four seconds below our season's best of 3:17:72 (click here for video).

We now move onto a possible lane in this weekend's Jamaica Invitational and then onto the National Junior Trials, which will be held separately from the Seniors this year on June 13th and 14th.

We thank everyone for their support over the year and feel confident that our student-athletes got good exposure as we have had initial inquiries from Norfolk State University and North Carolina A&T University. Omar Bryan is now also on the radar screen of a few colleges as he was the best of the local athletes in the discus.

We must say a "Big Respect" to the Old Boys that made it to the meet: Garfield Comrie (Western Union), Weldon "Perro" Maddan, Damion "Missah C" Campbell, Escoffery "Scaffo" Thomas, "Trouble" Rowe, David Knight, Raymond "Foggy" Farquharson and David "Baddaz" Atkinson. We must also say a big thanks to that indomitable organization, Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB). TJB and its legion of volunteers and sponsors ensured all schools found safe and affordable accommodations along with free transportation and meals. We are reminded during times of crisis of the strength of the Jamaican Spirit and Brotherhood. TJB consistently reaffirms these virtues each and every year and as such they make us more proud to be Jamaican.

Best Regards,
B.C. Hayden
Team Manager

MUNRO HEADS OFF TO PENN RELAYS TODAY

Back Row (L-R) Richard Wilson (Coach), Omar Bryan, Shawnterry Manboard, Jodirae Blackwood, Andrene Nelson (Head Prefect), Moses Watkis, Steve Cole (Coach); Front Row (L-R) Adam Cummings, Erroll Davis; Absent - Rolando Reid (US Embassy)

A ten man delegation from Munro College Track and Field will leave the Donald Sangster International Airport today for Philadelphia. Included in that number are:

Athletes
Jodirae Blackwood (4x100 & 4x400m - ran 48.4 at Champs)
Omar Bryan (Discus - Current CAC U-17 Record Holder)
Adam Cummings (Rewarded for winning National CIII 100m title in record time of 10.91 - not competing)
Erroll Davis (4x400m - 2nd Yr CII - 1:56.9h over 800m)
Shawnterry Manboard (4x100 & 4x400m - 10.7h and 50.4h)
Andrene Nelson (4x100m & 4x400m - Head Prefect - Relay Animal 49.1 over 400m)
Rolando Reid (4x100m & 4x400m - 10.6h - '07 CIII 100m Champ)
Moses Watkis (4x100m & TJ - 10.7h - D'Cup Striker and National U-20 Invitee)

Coaches
Richard Wilson
Steve Cole

We wish them all the best and thank everyone that helped make this trip possible. The guys looked good at the Penn Camp held this past weekend at Stadium East. Second leg man on the mile relay team, Jodi-Rae Blackwood, had the flu and was rested. Other than that all went well with Nelson and Reid clocking 49.1 and 49.4 over 400m in a 90% time trial. Omar Bryan threw for a few hours by the St. Hugh's field with Dr. Jones, Michael Vassell and Rory Marsh. He left with a best of 51.50m that would have put him 5th in last year's competition.

Let's remember that the last time Munro went to the Penn Relays in 2006 we won the 4x100m for High School Boys (Small Schools). Here's the video of that race to refresh your memory.

I will try and keep everyone updated on how things are going for the fellows over the weekend. In the meantime feel free to browse the Flotrack Video site at the end of each day for videos of every race. A link to the results can also be found below.

1. FLOTRACK VIDEO - PENN RELAYS COVERAGE 2008 (Updated at end of each day)

The 2008 4x100m Heat (anchor leg pulls)

The 2008 4x400m Heat

2. PENN RELAYS RESULTS (2008)