Fri | Mar 29, 2024

Intercol Champs at UWI

Published:Friday | April 5, 2013 | 12:00 AM

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

DEFENDING male and female champions, the University of Technology (UTech) and G.C. Foster College, will be gunning to retain their titles when the two-day VMBS Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships begins today at the Usain Bolt Stadium starting at 1 p.m.

It took the final event, the men's long jump to decide the male winners last year and it could be just as close this year. G.C. Foster College easily won the women's title in 2012 but could encounter stiffer challenge this time from UTech.

This year's meet will be used to help select the team for the World University Games which will be held July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia. The 3,000m steeplechase for males and females will be run at the meet for the first time.

Over 25 national representatives will be on show with World Junior 400m hurdles champion, Janieve Russell to lead the way. Russell is now in her first year at UTech and she will be joined by Carifta Under 20 100m hurdles champion, Megan Simmonds and Under 20 800m champion Simoya Campbell along with former St Jago High middle distance athlete, Mollyann Blake.

Among the men, UTech are expected to parade Julian Forte and Andrew Fisher while the UWI will have Olympian Travis Smikle, sprint hurdler Stefan Fennell and sprinter David Dunn.