History-making Williams Denbigh’s new star on the track

A new star was born at the Carifta Trials on Sunday's final day of the three-day competition as 15-year-old Markland Williams created history for himself and Denbigh High School. Williams became the first athlete from the Clarendon-based institution to book a ticket to the Carifta Games, after an impressive showing in the boys' Under-17 800m.

In an outstanding display, Williams stopped the clock at a personal best 1:55.03 to win, easily turning back pre-race favourite Luke Plummer of Sydney Pagon High, who finished second in 1:57.05.

Williams, who dropped out of the event at the semi-final stage last year at the ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships after clocking 2:04.20 for a seventh-place finish, was very elated with his win.

"I feel really good knowing that I won the event and in the process created history by being the first from my school to make the national team in track and field," said Williams.

Asked about his motivation coming into Trials, he said: "I was very motivated by my coaches in training who encouraged me a lot, telling me I have the ability to do something special in the event."

The Class Two winner at the Central Athletics Championships several days earlier, in what was then a personal best 1:58.12, Williams stated that he was determined to beat Plummer, who had defeated him at the JAAA PUMA Fuller Anderson meet at GC Foster College, where he clocked 1:58.83 behind Plummer, who won in 1:57.22.

"I really wanted to meet him again as I knew I had the beating of him and despite getting out a bit slow at the Carifta Trials my aim was to catch up and stay with him up to the final 200 metres, as I knew that I had a better kick and it paid off in the end," said Williams.

He noted that coming fifth two days earlier in the 1500m, while competing for only the second time ever in the event, helped to prepare him for the 800m.

Now the favourite to win the event at the ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships, where he is the event leader, Williams is planning to go even faster and create more history.

"I know that now I will be the target for my competitors, but that will be even more motivation for me as I am very confident I will go much faster and create more history for myself and my school at the championships," he said confidently. - R.G.