The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Local athletes in action in Maryland

RAYMOND GRAHAM, Freelance Writer

( L - R )Allodin Fothergill, Kimona Smith

baltimore, maryland

SEVERAL Jamaican athletes based in colleges in the United States will be in action over the next three days, starting today, as the Mid Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships gets under way at the Morgan State University campus in Baltimore.

Maryland Eastern Shore University, which was co-champion at the Indoor Championships with Hampton University, will be hoping that the five Jamaicans in their line-up will help them in taking the outdoor title.

Leading the way

Leading the way for them will be Mereicca James, the former G.C. Foster College athlete who was named Indoor MVP champion after winning four events. James is favourite to be named MVP once again as she has dominated middle and long distance running in the conference, and she should win the 800, 1500 and 5,000 metres. She will also participate in the mile relay.

The improving Taneisha Wisdom, who took the 200-400 metres double for Eastern Shore, should also play a vital part in her team seeking the championship. Former Holmwood Technical athlete Celia Whyte in the 800 metres, and another former G.C. Foster star, Tamika Thomas, in the middle and long distance events, are also expected to do well.

Male and fermale star power

North Carolina A&T University will be one of the favourites to take the title as they are very strong in the field events. Led by former Morant Bay High athlete Kimona Smith in the long and triple jumps, along with former St Andrew High student Katherine Forester in the shot put and discus, and former Alpha star Jerrine Foster in the throwing events, they should do enough to give defending champions Hampton a run for their money.

On the male side, former G.C. Foster College star Allodin Fothergill, who had a good indoor season, is expected to do well for Maryland Eastern Shore University in the 200 and 400 metres. He, along with another former G.C. Foster College standout, Carlington Morgan, of Coppin State University, should have an epic battle in the 400 metres as both went down to the wire at the Morgan State Legacy Meet two weeks ago.