Team Athletics SVG (TASVG) has extended congratulations to the St Vincent Grammar School (SVGS) and the Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS), on their performance at last weekend’s hosting of the 125th edition of the Penn Relays in Pennsylvania, USA.

President of the TASVG Keith Joseph, in his congratulatory correspondence via email stated: “On Behalf of the Executive and membership of Team Athletics St Vincent and the Grenadines, I extend most sincere congratulations to the teams from both the St Vincent Grammar School and the Thomas Saunders Secondary School for their successes at the 125th edition of the annual Penn Relays in Pennsylvania, USA, over the weekend”.

“That the Grammar School won its category is indeed justice served… The athletes were very well prepared and stuck to the plan and race strategy…Congrats to coach Rawlson Morgan,” Joseph wrote.

The SVGS won their 4 x 400m heat, clocking a time of 3 minutes 24.90 seconds, placing that institution 39th of the 532 schools.
This clocking though was slower than the 3 minutes 22.18 seconds achieved in 2018.

However, the quartet, in the 4 x 100m, bettered the SVGS’ 2018 clocking.

The Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS) Penn Relays outfit

The SVGS’ 2019 time was 44.66 seconds, which earned the school a 197th ranking of the 532 participants. In 2018, SVGS’ time in the 4 x 100m was 44.92 seconds.

In the case of the TSSS, the tale was similar, as the male team was able to better their time in the 4x 100m, but was slower in the 4 x 400m.
This year, the TSSS’ time in the 4 x100m was 44.62 seconds, which was faster than the 45.13 timing in 2018. The time ranked Thomas Saunders in position 190th of the 531 school.

In the 4 x 400m, TSSS placed 255th of the 532 schools, as they stopped the clock at 3 minutes 35.56 seconds. This was slower than the 3 minutes 30.16 seconds achieved in 2018.

Meanwhile, the TSSS females were able to lower their time of 4 minutes 06.94 seconds done in 2018, to 4 minutes 05.87 seconds last weekend. Thus, the TSSS was 120th of the 606 schools.

And, the TSSS females recorded 51.16 seconds in the 4 x 100m.

In giving commendation to the TSSS’ efforts, Joseph stated: “Godfrey Harry must also be congratulated, even though his athletes appeared to have wavered in respect of adherence to the designated strategy during the event… The teams represented with pride…The girls missed Zamesha Myle who was injured at the Carifta Games a week earlier”.

“TASVG certainly hopes that the success at Pennsylvania would serve as an inspiration to both educational institutions and their budding athletes… We wish you both continued success,” Joseph’s email ended.

The athletes who represented the SVGS were Encozie Rodgers, Nellie Ambriton, Handal Roban, Jaydyn Delpesche, Deron Edwards and Malik Ferdinand. They were accompanied by coach Rawlson Morgan, along with officials Luann Weekes, Randy Boucher and former principal, Curtis King.

The TSSS female team was composed of Shahalia Lynch, Tiwanny John, Almarie Providence, Kaylia Edwards, Daniella Lewis and Zamesha Myle, and the male outfit, Uroy Ryan, Myron Matthews, Dawson Samuel, Jamal Creese and Zimiri Stephenson.

TSSS’ support staff included Godfrey Harry, Larissa John, Louis Soleyn and Shirnelle Thomas.

It was the third straight year of the SVGS’ participation in the Penn Relays and the ninth for the TSSS.