Sisters Ristananna Tracey (left) and Nikita Tracey of Edwin Allen High School embrace after claiming one-two in the girls' 400m hurdles open final on day three of the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships recently. Both turned in magnificent performances to lead their school in achieving overwhelming success in the 4x400 and 4x800 events at the Penn Relays yesterday. They copped the Most Outstanding Individual and Relay Athlete awards. - File
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania:
Their journey began Thursday morning, in wind-swept, chilly and overcast conditions. It was crowned two days later by brilliant sunshine and roaring, joyous ovation from nearly 50,000 fans - a huge chunk of them Jamaicans - at the Franklin Field stadium here.
For two teenaged sisters, Nikita and Ristananna Tracey of Edwin Allen High School, the three days that made up the Penn Relays were nothing if not a splendid ride. The 115th staging of the prestigious event rewarded their efforts and presented another opportunity to share a unique bond through outstanding performances on the track.
"It feels great (to share the success with my sister) because we've trained hard for it," said the older Nikita on Saturday, shortly after receiving the award for the high-school girls athlete of the meet for individual events following her win in the 400 metres hurdles.
"We love each other and we just came out here to do our best and we did and were victorious at the end," she added, as she watched Ristananna step onto the podium to receive the award for the meet's outstanding high-school relay runner.
Ristananna, who finished second to her sister in the 400 metres hurdles at Boys' and Girls' Championships earlier this month in Kingston, said she was equally happy. For the pair, it was expected reward for their preparation.
"I anticipated that we would do very well," she said, after watching her older sister collect her individual honour, "because we trained really hard, from early in the mornings and we didn't want all of that to go in vain".
The two said they had discussed the possibility of their success going into 'Penns'. But neither anticipated how the drama, which landed them individual honors, would unfold. On the first morning of the meet, Nikita braced against mid-50s temperatures to clock 57.44 seconds in her pet event. The high-schooler's time was even better than the 57.78 which won the college women's version.
Memorable moments
Early Friday afternoon, "the clo-ser" Ristananna anchored Edwin Allen's victorious 4x800 metres team, which featured Nikita running the second leg. Yet it was younger sister's stirring run in anchoring the 4x400 metres team that provided one of the most memorable moments of the championships.
Ristananna took the baton well behind the battling lead pair of Manchester High's Natoya Goule and Petra Fanty of Holmwood Technical. Yet, she carefully bided her time before sweeping by Goule and Fanty to win.
What amazed most onlookers among Friday's frenzied crowd of close to 40,000, was the 16-year-old's calculating composure. She never hurried to join the Goule-Fanty tussle. Instead, she relied on a smooth pace then a swift, decisive strike near the top of the home stretch.
Opening leg
"I thought they would burn out because they were racing," said Ristananna, recalling her thoughts during the race, which saw Nikita run the opening leg.
"I just travelled and made sure I was close to them and when I reached at the curb I said nothing would stop me and I just pumped my arms and it took me home."
That late race attack mode is one edge coach Michael Dyke believes will serve Ristananna well in her career. He is proud of the Tracey sisters, Dyke said, crediting their success to hard work and competitiveness throughout the season, along with their humility and motivation to do well for themselves and family. Yet the younger sister gets the edge in aggressiveness, which served her well on the final leg of the 4x400.
"Both of them are going to do well, believe me," said Dyke. "But I have a little soft touch where Ristananna is concerned. I think she's a lot more aggressive."
It showed in that thrilling stretch run. Only third-leg teammate Shashawna Ffrench, who clocked 55 seconds, plus one other runner, came within a full second of Ristananna's anchor time of 54.1 seconds in the final of the 4x400.
But while Nikita and Ristananna remain competitive, with the older sister always trying "to stay on top" on the track, it never affects their relationship off it, according to Dyke. Their love for each other, he said, shows "very much," the track rivalry "never" gets in the way of their personal friendship and they share their successes "all the time".
The time will come when they will go separate ways. Nikita will be the first to leave Edwin Allen. She wants a scholarship to study overseas, but won't abandon younger sister just yet. Asked if she would like Ristananna to join her at the same university, Nikita didn't hesitate.
"Yes sir," she said, with a broad smile that made an already glorious day shine even brighter.