Bennett believes Hydel’s 4x200m record at Gibson is poetic justice
Hydel coach Corey Bennett is beaming with pride about their record-breaking 4x200 metres Open run at the Gibson/McCook Relays at the National Stadium despite having reservations about their overall dominating performance in the high school girls' category.
Hydel picked up three wins on Saturday with the quartet of Shemonique Hazle, Alana Reid, Alliah Baker and Oneika McAnnuff producing the only record among high schools on Saturday, after romping the 4x200 metres Open in a quick time of 1:33.71 minutes. They erased the previous best of 1:33.82 minutes done by another Hydel quartet in 2017.
It was somewhat of poetic justice for Bennett as last year Hydel were not invited to participate at the meet, despite having a quality quartet, including Brianna Lyston, who later in the year, won the World Under-20 Championships 200 metres women's gold medal in Cali, Colombia, as well as Kerrica Hill, who captured the 100 metres hurdles also in Cali last year.
"We had a mixed bag of fortunes on Saturday. We were definitely disappointed with the mishap in the Class II girls' 4x100 metres relay in the preliminary round, but I believe we ended the day well with three wins and two third-place finishes," Bennett said.
"I am especially proud of the performance in the Open 4x200 metres. We could have broken the record in the event last year, but we were deliberately not invited to compete in it, so I think it would have been great to get a crack at it this year, and the girls were highly motivated."
Earlier, Hydel got off the mark when Reid, Baker and McAnnuff teamed with Shania Myers to win the Class I girls 4x100 metres relay in 44.25 seconds to repel the challenges of defending champions Edwin Allen who finished in 44.91 seconds. Hydel were having their first success in the event at the Gibson/McCook Relays.
The Ferry-based Hydel also had success in the Class IV girls' 4x100 metres in 48.86 seconds, to beat the surging Holmwood Technical, who did 48. 87 seconds.