Sub-11 time not out of sight for Terrelonge

THE FASTEST high school girl in Jamaica this year, Edwin Allen High School’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, is not ruling out the possibility that the girls’ Class 2 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships 100-metre record could also be marked in less than 11 seconds.

Terrelonge showed the gait of an experienced sprinter as she ran a comfortable 12.15 seconds to win her preliminary heat yesterday inside the National Stadium, finishing ahead of Leigh-Ann Johnson of The Queen’s High School, 12.38. Tanille Smiley of Hydel High School was third in 12.79.

The Edwin Allen athlete said yesterday’s hold on the throttle was really about race management before confirming that Kevona Davis’ and Kerrica Hill’s shared record of 11.16 was in jeopardy.

With the in-form athlete already clocking 11.25 this season, she is within touching distance of the record and is confident that she can write her name in the record book this year.

However, while she admitted dipping below the 11-second mark is not her main focus, she said she has not closed the door on that possibility as she believes she is capable of becoming only the second schoolgirl to do so at Champs.

“It is very important for me because I have to know how to manage the rounds because it is not just one race, but three rounds for me,” she said. “There is definitely an aim for me going after that Class 2 record. A sub-11 time is not too much for me, but I’m not really focusing on that right now because I have another year in Class 2, so I’m just taking it one step at a time.”

Edwin Allen will be pinning hopes of big points from Terrelonge this year as the school takes aim at reclaiming the girls’ title they lost last year.

The Frankfield-based high school were a close second last year, finishing just two points behind defending champions Hydel.

This year, the dethroned Edwin Allen are high on confidence after an impressive showing this year. Their 119.75-point lead on their way to the Central Champs title in February would have been a massive boost to their title hopes.

Terrelonge is confident that come Saturday, Edwin Allen will be the ones to lift the trophy.

“It is very important for me to perform at my best because I want to go out and do well and so do my other teammates. I know definitely that I have the hope that we can reclaim the girls’ title.”

Terrelonge will be in action today for the semifinals for the girls’ Class 2 100 semifinals.