Calabar Lions » News and Bulletins

Ramone ‘Batman’ McKenzie Aims for Records

Kirk — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:29:57 +0000

World Youth 200 metres gold medallist Ramone ‘Batman’ McKenzie of Calabar High School plans to break the Class One 200m and 400m records during the 99th staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships which begins tomorrow. “I was told not to say much but I know I will do well in both my events and I am gunning for the records, so let’s see what happens,” McKenzie told the Observer yesterday.

The 400m and 200m records of 45.35 and 20.25 seconds were established by triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, prior to his 17th birthday in 2003. Eighteen-year-old McKenzie, who created the Class Two 400m and 200m records of 47.24secs and 20.89 in 2007, wants to do the same in Class One this week. “I am looking to go below 45 seconds and below 20.1,” the outspoken sprinter said.

Running in lane eight last year, McKenzie won the 400 metres in 46.32secs and finished second in the 200m with 21.05 behind St Jago High’s Nickel Ashmeade 21.04secs. McKenzie, who has recovered from an ankle injury sustained at last year’s Penn Relays, says he’s in very good shape.

Singer Gives Calabar a pre-Champs boost

Kirk — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:23:35 +0000

Singer Jamaica Limited gave Calabar High School a pre-Champs boost yesterday, donating personalised water bottles to members of the track and field team. The presentation took place at Singer’s head office at the PCJ Building on Trafalgar Road in which Sharon Spence-Gibbs, Singer’s general manager, handed over the light green bottles, neatly decorated with Calabar’s name and the school’s crest.

“Singer has been in athletics for the past seven years and it is our contribution to the development of youth through sports. We are very happy to take part with athletics teams,” Gibbs told the Observer. “Calabar is a good team and we know that they will do well. We have sponsored Wolmer’s and St Jago in the past. These are the athletes of the future and we are happy to be a part of it,” she noted.

Champs 2009 code of conduct

Kirk — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:04:31 +0000

Leading high school principals, with the support of student leaders, along with the National Transformation Programme, have hammered out a code of conduct in a peace initiative aimed at stemming the violence associated with the upcoming Boys & Girls Championships, set for April 1-4 at the National Stadium.

Principal of Jamaica College, Ruel Reid; principal of Calabar, Captain Lincoln Thaxter, and acting principal of Kingston College, Everton Burrell, as well as Rev Al Miller of the National Transformation Programme, made the announcement at a press conference at Jamaica College, Old Hope Road yesterday.

According to the code of conduct, detailed by Reid, all marches must be approved of and have police escorts. He called for “no storming of girls’ schools by any other school. Schools will not condone supporters or alumni who would bring the Champs into disrepute.

“Applaud good performance and efforts from all individuals and teams, congratulate all participants on their performance, respect the decision of officials, positive comments will be motivational for all participants.

“Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, parents, officials or students; show respect for your team’s opponents; without them there would be no competition.

“Encourage competitors to follow the rules and abide by the officials’s decisions; respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender or ability,” Reid stated on the code of conduct.

In addition, the principals urged schools “to adopt a zero tolerance approach to violent clashes between rival schools” and “encourage exchange visits to promote peace among rival schools”.

Read full Article – Jamaica Obsever

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Herb McKenley – A year since the passing of a Great Jamaican

Kirk — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:01:01 +0000

It’s been a year since the passing of Herbert Henry McKenley, one of the greatest athletes ever born. A year ago this son of Jamaica and the Calabar High School family passed on at the age of 85 and the Calabarlions.com team would like to contribute to keeping the memory of such a great man fresh in the minds of all men and women whether you had gotten the opportunity to meet or be in the presence of Mr McKenley or not.

Read About Herb McKenley on Wikipedia
Herb McKenley Obituary on Times Online

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Herb McKenley Stadium to be Completed Soon

Kirk — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:53:59 +0000

Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Henry, has assured that the Herb McKenley Stadium in Central Clarendon, would be completed shortly. Mr. Henry, who made the announcement at a welcome reception for Jamaica’s team to the Beijing Olympic Games, held at the Norman Manley International Airport on October 3, as part of the seven-day Olympic Homecoming celebrations, informed that he had appointed former 400-metre world competitor, Sandy Richards, “to be the Ambassador to advise me and co-ordinate the development of that whole stadium.”

He noted that the facility would have a nine-lane running track, unlike the eight-lane running track at the National Stadium. “We’ll have a fifth generation astro-turf in place,” the Transport Minister added.

Mr. Henry, who is also Member of Parliament for the area, expressed the hope that the 12,000 to 15,000 capacity stadium, would “begin to manifest the Government’s involvement, the Government’s realisation that the individualistic aspect of our athletes, which come together in a team spirit, is what we have to capture in the wider community of Jamaica.”

The stadium is named in honour of the late great Olympian, Herb McKenley, who died on November 26 last year, at age 85.

On another matter, the Minister informed that the repair of roads in the communities of the six Olympic gold medallists was underway.

“My report is that we are progressing with them all. We have different things to deal with,” he said, noting that this deed should be seen as a contribution to the athletes’ communities, “as without your community, you could not have made it this far, but equally, I hope that your community recognises that they must respect your achievements as part of their daily lives.”

Source – JIS

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Calabar sweep relays at Reebok Grand Prix

Kirk — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:59:04 +0000

Calabar High made it three wins in a row over St Jago High in the high school boys 4×100m at yesterday’s fourth staging of the Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, New York. Calabar also won the 4×400m relays to sweep the high school boys events.

Calabar’s anchor-leg runner, Oshane Bailey, made up at least eight metres on St Jago’s anchor-leg runner, Adolphus Nevers, as they added to their win at the Penn Relays a month ago in Philadelphia and in Class 1 at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ Champs.

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Calabar, Jago and Manchester claim crowns at 114th Penn Relays

Kirk — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:32:54 +0000

Calabar, St Jago and Manchester high sizzled to claim Championship of America titles on yesterday’s final day of the 114th Penn Relays at Franklin Field stadium. After two disasters in the morning session, where Calabar lost Ramone McKenzie, who was seen on crutches, and Kingston College’s (KC) Andre Peart, who got hurt in the 4×400m heats, Jamaica schools did well by taking all three relays contested on the day.

It started in the Championship of America’s boys’ 4×100m when Calabar, running without regular second-leg man McKenzie, upset St Jago, who failed to finish. The quartet of Andrew Riley, Earl Lee, Warren Weir and Oshane Bailey stopped the clock in 40.74. Riley, the team’s captain, said the victory was great.

“One of our main players (McKenzie) was injured and that really motivated us. We wanted to show that it’s not a one-man team, it’s a group, so that really gave us a great boost to go out there and deliver for the school,” Riley said.

Clarke, Wilson predict more successes for Champs 2009

Kirk — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:41:27 +0000

Michael Clarke and Maurice Wilson, coaches of 2008 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Champion teams Calabar and Holmwood Technical, respectively, think that with their current cadre of athletes, their teams should be hard to be beat within the next few years at the annual high school athletics event.

Both men said that while a few key persons will leave school this year, the core of their teams will remain at least for another year, giving them a good shot at winning in 2009.
Calabar will lose current team captain Andrew Riley, who won the Class One boys’ high jump and heptathlon Open, finished third in the 110m hurdles, was part of the winning 4×100m relay team, and was named the Champion Boy and Champion Class One boy for the 2008 championships.

“Andrew has been the stalwart of the team,” Clarke, a Calabar old boy himself, told Sporting World.

Noel Facey – the Carifta trials double champion – who finished second in the discus and third in the shot put at Champs, Warren Weir, and Marvin Grant will also leave school this year.

“Our philosophy in terms of building a team is primarily about continuity, and the spaces that are going to be created now based on our plans and what we have implemented over the last year should put us in a position whereby the boys who are leaving will be missed, but not a significant loss,” Clarke said.

Cable and Wireless to continue support for Penn Relay teams

Kirk — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:38:14 +0000

Telecommunications giant Cable and Wireless Jamaica extended its annual link with high schools and one tertiary institution by contributing money to offset expenses associated with their participation in the Penn Relays. The prestigious event will run from Thursday, April 24 through to Saturday, April 26, at the Pennsylvania University in Philadelphia.

From a $550,000 package, 18 institutions, including non-traditional high schools such as Mona and Clan Carthy, received donations of $30,000 each, plus a $1,000 ‘Jus Talk’ calling card, that will give each school 200 minutes of talk time to facilitate communication with their people here in Jamaica.

“Jamaica has a very strong tradition … I’m sure that you will do well. Do the very best you can for yourself and Jamaica,” encouraged Green, an Australian who has been with C&WJ for eight months now.

Indications that this tradition will be maintained were quite strong amid the gathering at C&W yesterday, with many of the country’s top juniors representing their schools, including St. Jago High’s Yohan Blake, Calabar High’s Ramone McKenzie, Manchester High’s Natoya Goule, Vere Technical’s Jura Levy and St Andrew High’s Latoya McDermott.

Remembering Dr Gordon and Funeral Information

Kirk — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:06:47 +0000

There was a tree planting ceremony in memory of Dr. Jennifer Gordon on the 19th of March on the Calabar High School grounds. The president of the Calabar Old Boys Association – Lance Cowan was present. The funeral and thanks giving service for Dr Gordon will be on March 29 starting at 1pm at the Boulevard Baptist Church then to Meadowrest, all friends and family of Calabar are invited to attend.

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