Blackman claims `fastest man’ title
by Candyss Odle
Stabroek News
March 23, 2003
National sprinter Andre Blackman proved that he was the fastest sprinter in Guyana when he outran an eight man field in the final of the Open 100m event at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground on the first day of the Amateur Athletic Associaion of Guyana (AAAG) Carifta Trials.
Blackman’s winning time was 10.2 seconds, creditable considering the grass track, the overcast weather and reasonably high winds.
Blackman was able to defeat Keith Roberts who ran a time of 10.6s, Rawle Green: 10.6s and Brennon Thompson:10.9s who were forced to settle for second, third and fourth positions respectively.
On the women’s side, veteran sprinter Alisha Fortune-Foster outran favourite Michelle Vaughn in a time of 11.9s in the 100m while Vaughn’s time of 12.1s earned her second place.
Vaughn, however, promises much better results in her pet event, the Women’s long jump to be held today.
The Girl’s U-17 100m was won by Diane Munroe in 12.0s with favourite Annalisa Austin settling for third while Quacy Trotman in 11 seconds flat, won the boys U-17 100m.
The Girl’s U-20 100m was won by Rushell Coates in 12.2s while Carlton Babb won the Boy’s U-20 100m in 10.9s.
Jennifer Chichester was able to live up to expectations and shake off stiff competition from Delcia Dick to emerge victorious in the Girl’s U-17 1500m in a time of 5:15:7s. In second and third position, was Dick and Carlisa Atkinson with times of 5:16:9s and 5:26:5s, respectively.
Rodwell Downer claimed the Boys U-17 1500m in 4:41:2s, while Karlis Kendall took the Boys U-20 1500m in 4:33:6s, and Ashanti Scott took the Women 1500m in 5:30:8s.
The 10,000m was won by Lionel D’Andrade in 34:15:9s, in heavy downfall of rain which began at the start of the race and ended at the end of the race. It was as if the rain knew that the athletes would need some form of cooling down, because of the long duration of the race.
Female football referee, Diane Ferriera-James claimed the U20/Women’s Javelin event, with a throw of 31.78m beataing heptathlete Nyota Peters.
The Championships conclude today, beginning at 10:30am, with events such as the 200m, 800m, long jump, discus, all under the categories: U17 male and female,U-20 male and female and open male and female, 3000m (girls and boys U-17, 5000m (girls and boys U-20 and men and women open) and the 4x100m and 4x400m Men and women.
