Buff Bay want to finish in top 10 again

For the first time in the school's history, Buff Bay High finished in the top 10 in the boys' section at the 2018 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

The school from eastern Portland tallied 32 points after Romaine Beckford won two gold medals and coach Kevin Brown is hoping to repeat the feat this year.

"We are trying to see if we can repeat what we did last year finishing in the top 10 with 32 points but it will be difficult," he said.

The task became arduous yesterday after Beckford, who smashed the Class Two boys discus throw record with his 55.70 metres effort last year, failed to advance to the Class One discus final. The tall, lanky athlete was expected to be a finalist in the event.

"Even though he is stepping up in Class One, I do believe that he would have done very well based on what he was doing in training," Brown explained.

But all hope is not lost as Beckford and teammate Raymond Richards are expected to do well in the Class One high jump.

Beckford and Richards are expected to move on from the school next year, but Brown believes a lot has been put in place to continue to groom talent in Buff Bay.

"We want to continue what we are doing but it is difficult to get persons who have the ability to do well in these technical events but once you find them it will work out. We know what it takes to build athletes in the east," he said.