Edwin Allen plunged into mourning over athlete’s death

THE EDWIN Allen High School community was left in shock on Friday after the sudden passing of one of their young track and field athletes.

Fifteen-year-old Tanesha Gayle, a member of the successful medley relay team at last March’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, died at the Percy Junor Hospital.

“During a training session, Taneisha, along with some members of the team, stopped and sat down. This is normal. But, after they were told to get up and continue training, Taneisha failed to get up. She was assisted by a female member of staff but still was not responding to get on her feet. She was rushed to the school doctor in Frankfield, where she was transferred to the hospital. That was where the sad news came later that she had died,” said Head Coach Michael Dyke.

“The entire school family, including members of the track and field team, is devastated. I said to myself that this could not be real, hoping when I wake up in the morning it was only a dream,” said Dyke.

Principal of Edwin Allen High, Jermaine Harris, echoed the sentiments of the coach.

“We just started our new school year and we were not anticipating this kind of news. But it is something we as a staff are grappling with,” he said.

“And, when we got the news yesterday evening, we immediately activated our critical response team to provide initial support to the girls, including the student-athletes who live in the dormitory.

“So we offered the necessary support to the girls and we contacted the parents. So it is a very difficult time for us,” he said.

There has been no word yet on the cause of the death.