Following a two year stint at Titchfield High School, the Girls’ Champs trophy finally made its way back to north-east Jamaica courtesy of St Mary High School. Here are some facts about the school’s performance at Champs.
- St Mary High School claimed back-to-back Girls’ Champs titles in 1976 and 1977.
- Both victories were orchestrated by the brilliant Jacqueline Pusey. In 1976, after being upset in the class 2 400m, she came back with a vengeance to win the 100m/200m double in 12.0 and 23.9 seconds, respectively. What was most spectacular about these times is that class 1 winner Carmeta Drummond’s (St Andrew Technical High) 200m was actually slower at 24.1 seconds. Both girls recorded the same time for the 100m.
- Pusey not only made the 1976 Olympics team, but got all the way to the semifinals of the 200m and featured in the 4x100m team that placed 6th in the finals.
Source: Champs 100: A Century of Jamaican High School Athletics 1910-2010 by Hubert Lawrence
