INSIDE GRENADA Tuesday February 28,2007 by Lester Smith Queens Park, ST.GEORGE'S: This must be scary or should I say amazing? How about unbelievable for want of a better word. Such words can certainly describe the performances of Day Two of the Scotia bank Intercol Games 2007. It was only on Day One I commented on the fact that there was such a disparity in the actual performances in comparison with the records of the various events citing cases to prove my point. Then, as if by divine intervention the athletes became obliged to step up their performances. The simple fact to support such observation would be to consider that one record was broken on Day One as compared to five records broken on Day Two. The day started at Event #30 Boys Shot Put Juniors and Jonathan Gibson of GBSS came close to the record. He threw 13.31 meters. The record for the event is 13.66 metres set by Benjamin Hood of GBSS in 2004. And there it started, the athletes just turned the heat up. The thousands of fans and supporters at the stadium would remember for quite a while the strong individual performances of two special athletes. Janelle Redhead of St Rose Modern Secondary School and Kirani James of the Grenada Boys Secondary School. These two athletes based on the technique and tactic when running in their respective events demonstrated that they are properly coached to be high performance athletes. The previous day, Jeanelle Redhead equaled the record for the 100 Meter Dash Senior Girls with an impressive run of 11.50 secs. The record holder is Sherry Fletcher of St. David’s Catholic set in 2003. Then on Day Two Jeanelle erased an old mark set by Grenadian International sprint star Hazel-ann Regis in 1998 in the 200 Meters Dash Senior Girls. Jeanelle ran 23.40 secs. Erasing the old mark 23.80 secs. She went on to capture the Senior Girls Individual Champion of Intercol 2007. However, it was the performance of Kirani James that capture all eyes during the Two Day Meet. On the first day, Kirani smashed the 200 Meter Junior Boys record set by joel Phillip of GBSS in 2003 (21.80 secs.) He ran 21.34 secs. The glimmer of hope for GBSS decided to stamp total authority on Day Two. He set a New Record in the Junior Boys 100 Meters 10.50 secs. Erasing the old mark of Sean Lambert 10.70 secs. Set in 1998. he then went on to demolish an old mark set by Bruce Swan of Mc Donald College in 1993 in the 400 Meters (50.30 secs.) Kirani ran under 50 secs. He set a New Record of 49.20 secs. Wow!! Look out Alleyne Francique. I personally can’t recall when last an athlete broke three sprint records in a single Meet. 100M, 200M and 400M. Infact he also went on to win the Boys Junior Long Jump. What a feat! Then it came down to the various teams performances. Who would have thought that the final event of the day would decide the Champions of Intercol. And after the rankings were read before the final 4 X 400M event. One could have noticed various emotions on the faces of many. Mc Donald College 112.33 points, St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) 112.66. SAASS led from the start up to the final event. At the end, it read MDC 124.33 and SAASS 120.66 In the Girls Division, St. David’s Catholic Secondary defended their title quite convincingly amidst difficult preparations. The school were not able to host the Annual Sports Meet and also to prepare their athletes effectively due to the unavailability of La Sagesse playing field yet they were victorious amassing a total of 113 points some 46 points ahead of the second place St. Joseph Convent St. Andrew’s. Finally. I am persuaded to believe that Intercol should be contested over a Three Day Period. Athletes are too pressured over the two days. The Games start at 9:30 am each day…what about the athletes who are journeying from far. The events are hasten to be completed amidst soaring heated temperatures. It’s just too much pressure. On a better note, we all enjoyed Intercol 2007. BOYS MDC 124.33 SAASS 120.66 GBSS 46 WHSS 24 GIRLS SDCSS 113 SJCSA 66 HHSS 59 SAASS 54