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Delano Todd, determined to put Charlemont High School on the track and field map, is motivated by his performances at the recent Central Athletics Championships and will be going into the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) without fear.

Todd, ranked No. 6 in the Class II boys' 800 metres, is undaunted about facing the event's other top athletes, including Kingston College's Nahashon Ruto and Jamaica College's pair of Tyrone Lawson and Rasheed Pryce, and is exuding confidence in succeeding in his preferred event, as well as the 400 metres.

"I am very confident of doing well in both events at Champs, especially the 800 metres, and I will be putting in some extra work with my coach over the next few weeks, as I expect a very good outcome in the end," he concluded.

Todd was one of the surprised packages at Central Champs as he finished second in the Class II boys' 400 metres in 49.82 seconds and won the 800 metres in 1:59.54 minutes, a personal best.

His performances garnered 16 points that enabled a 10th-placed Central Champs finish for Charlemont, whose track and field pedigree is minute, with former Jamaica star and world record holder Asafa Powell being the only name that readily comes to mind.

Todd was elated to win the 800 metres, but was unhappy that fatigue denied him a celebratory moment, having to lay on the track for several minutes and had to be helped off by his principal, Garth Gayle, who is also the president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

"When I crossed the finish line in front in that 800 metres, it was a great feeling, and knowing that I ran under two minutes for my personal best, the feeling was even better.

"I was very tired at the end and could not celebrate the win as I should, and I was also happy to see the kind of support given to me by my principal, Mr Gayle, who helped to take me off the track," he said.

Todd has been doing the sport since his days at Polly Ground Primary in Ewarton, dominating the 800 metres at the District Association Meet before passing his GSAT Examination for Dinthill. He was hunted by several Corporate Area schools, who tried to sway him to join their track and field programme, but instead, he opted for Charlemont.

"I was motivated by my bigger brother to do track and field, as he is a member of the Charlemont track and field team, and I wanted to join him there at Charlemont, and that's why I chose that school," he said.

His brother competed in the Open boys' 5,000 metres at the Central Championships.