Allodin Fothergill

JAMAICAN athletes were in impressive form in the first Conference College meet on the weekend, as former G.C. Foster College athletes Petrice Richards and Allodin Fothergill led the way for their teams at the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Richards, who is also a past student of Vere Technical, was in blistering form as she posted a double win that helped her team Hampton University to win their fifth consecutive outdoor title and seventh overall.

After seeing teammate Claudia Calder, formerly of Convent of Mercy Academy, taking the heptathlon on the second day of competition, Richards was in good form on the final day. She wrote her name in the record books, first smashing the 100 metres record of 11.45 seconds set by Florida A&M Shantea Pelum in 2000 with a new mark of 11.40 seconds.

Richards then returned to capture the 200 metres in 23.75 seconds.

Two other Jamaicans in Jerene Foster and Katherine Forrester, competing for North Carolina A&T University walked away with medals at the meet. Foster (45.32) and Forrester 42.03 metres finished second and third in the women's discus throw.

Fothergill, who represented Jamaica at the Beijing Olympic Games two years ago, defended his 400 metres title successfully. Representing the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Fothergill led from start to finish to win the event in 46.00 seconds as former G.C. Foster College quarter-miler, Carlington Morgan, competing for Coppin States University finished strong for second in 46.61 seconds. Fothergill also had a second-place finish in the men's 200 metres as he was edged out by North Carolina A&T Calesio Newman who won in 21.19 seconds.