Roberts turns tables on Blackman
by Candyss Odle
Stabroek News
March 24, 2003
Royal Youth Movement star athlete Keith Roberts took revenge for his 100m loss to rival Andre Blackman with a stirring 21.6 seconds run in the 200m as the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana national junior championships climaxed yesterday at the Uitvlugt Community Development Centre ground.
Blackam, dubbed the "fastest man" after Saturday's 100m triumph, settled for second with a time of 21.7 secs, in a nail-biting finish.
Alisha Fortune-Foster proved her worth when she also claimed the Women's 200m in a time of 26.1 secs.
Atoms athlete Annalisa Austin, who seemed not to be able to produce her best form, was only able to muster fourth, beaten by Diane Munroe, Asanti Mickle and Anika Niles respectively in the girls U-17 200m.
The first place time was 26.4 secs.
Quacy Trotman (23.6 secs) and Carlton Babb (23.0 secs), took top honours in the Boys U-17 and Under 20 200m respectively.
Ricky Kissoon of South Georgetown, claimed the 3000m Boys U-17 and a possible space on the Carfita team, when he outran Jemel Trotman and Dia Shabbazz in a time of 9:16:08.
Jennifer Chichester who stole the day by competing in three events, took top honours in the Girls U-17 3000m and the girls U-17 800m with times of 11:15:9 and 2:32:0 respectively and then came back to give her 4x400m relay team a win against Rising stars club when she ran the first leg.
Tai Payne of Atoms, won his pet event, the 800m, in a time of 2:00:00 despite a nagging thigh injury, ahead of Roberto Inniss and Dwayne Walcott who produced times of 2:03:04 and 2:07;07 secs respectively.
Rodwell Downer and Carlos Kendal won the boys U-17 and U-20 800m respectively. Kendal's win in the 800m may also earn him a place on the Carifta team.
Payne also won the Men 400m in a time of 51.3 secs ahead of his closest opponent Trevor Scotland who ran in second in a time of 51.7 secs.
Lionel D'Andrade won the U-20/Men 500m in a time of 16:38:09, ahead of Tulsiram Ramnauth while Ashanti Scott won the Women's 5000m in 20:51:02 ahead of Alicia Craig.
In the field events, favourite, Michelle Vaughn of Atoms, pleased a large crowd when she outjumped heptathlete Nyota Peters with a jump of 6.06 meters while Peters who proved to be of no serious competition was forced to settle for second with a jump of 5.86 meters.
Clyde Gibson also of Atoms, made light work of Kevin Bonnette of Linden track Club in the combination of the Men and boys U-20 Long Jump when he made a winning leap of 7.43 meters with Bonnette responding with a leap of 7.03m.
Stacy Wilson took the girls U-17 long jump with a leap of 4.91m.
Lone Guyanese female referee, Diane Ferriera-James took top honours in the U-20/women Shot Put and U-17/U-20/women discuss with throws of 9.70m and 23.04m respectively.
Royston Ross of Bygeval, took the boys U-20 discus event with a throw of 43.30m.
Police club, claimed both the Men and Women 4x400m with times of 3:49:02 and 4:18:04 respectively.
The Amateur Athletic Association will hold a council meeting on Wednesday evening to shortlist the athletes to be included in the Carifta team scheduled for the Twin island Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and to choose the athletes to represent Guyana at the upcoming Southern Games.
