Forde sensational as Carifta hopefuls impress
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
April 15, 2003
Local Carifta Games hopefuls turned in some impressive performances on Sunday at the New Amsterdam Track Club’s Open Invitational Track and Field Meet, at the Rose Hall Canje ground, but of the lot, Clevland Forde was sensational.
Forde, who participated in the men’s 1500 and 5000-metre races, won both events in convincing fashion and was by far the pick of the athletes on show.
Forde, who did not participate in the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana’s (AAA) National Championships at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground last month due to injury, clocked four minutes 19.7 seconds in winning the 1500m and 15 minutes 55.9 seconds for the 5000m.
In the latter, Forde lapped the other five participants twice during the course of the event and powered to victory with a blistering run in the final 100 metres.
Royal Youth Movement’s (RYM) Clevland Thomas placed second in the men’s 5000-metre. He returned 18 minutes 55.7 seconds, while David Daniels, also of RYM clocked 19 minutes 09.9 seconds for third.
Corentyne’s Kerlis Kendall (4:26.1) placed second in the men’s 1500-metre while Rodwell Downer finished third.
Forde is among a list of athletes short-listed by the AAA for possible selection to represent Guyana at the Carifta Games, slated for Trinidad and Tobago this weekend. However, the AAA in a release had stated that Forde would have to undergo a medical examination and participate in Sunday’s meet and before he could gain selection for the Easter weekend Games.
The release had stated that selection of the final team would depend on performance and the finance available.
Ricky Kissoon who was on the AAA’s short-list for the boys 3000-metre, contested Sunday’s 5000-metre because he was the only registered athlete present for that event (3000m). He managed fifth.
Forde made his intention known from the start by positioning himself at the head of affairs for the first 200 metres, and after completing six laps around the 300-metre circuit, he had already overtaken the entire opposition.
With three laps remaining for the defending Carifta 5000-metre champion lengthened his strides and subsequently overtook the field for a second time before storming to victory.
Donna April, another Carifta hopeful showed some grit when she contested the men’s 800-metre, and while she did not finish among the top three, returned a reasonable two minutes 30.5 seconds. There were no other participants for the women’s 800m.
The men’s version was won by Corentyne’s Carlos Kendall in two minutes 09.1 seconds, while Downer, also of Corentyne and a Carifta hopeful, placed second in two minutes 09.3 seconds, three seconds faster than David Younge who clocked two minutes 12.3 seconds for third.
Jennifer Chichester who has been short-listed for the under-17 girls 1500 and 3000-metre events was beaten in both events by NATC’s Delsie Dick who returned five minutes 17.4 seconds for the 1500-metre and 11 minutes 18.7 seconds for the 3000-metre.
Chichester placed second (5:18.2) in the 1500-metre and third (11:23.3) in the 3000-metre.
Leanne Doris of RYM was third (5:18.6) in the women’s 1500m and second (22.9) in the 3000m.
Dianne Munroe who has been short-listed for the under-17 girls 100 and 200-metre races, won both events. She clocked 12 seconds flat for the 100-metre and 26 seconds for the 200m.
Ruschelle Coates placed second in the 100m in a time of 12.4 seconds, while Robyne Allen (12.5 sec) was third. Allen however turned the tables on Coates in the 200m when she finished second (26.5 sec). Coates returned 27.2 seconds.
Keith Roberts scored a double by winning the men’s 100 and 400-mere races. He clocked 10.4 seconds for the 100m and 54.1 seconds for the 400m.
Carlton Babb (10.8) and Alex Greavesande (11.4) was second and third respectively in the 100m, while Delon Clarke (54.6), placed second in the 400m and Jermain Johnson (55) third.
Babb returned 23.3 seconds in winning the men’s 200-metre from Trelon Garraway and Greavesande respectively,
The women’s 400-metre event was won by Carifta hopeful Serma Mentore in 1:02.9. Second was Brenatta Henry (1:03.4) and third Velisha Easton (1:03.8).
Royston Ross won the men’s shot put with a throw of 12.25 metres. second was Cleon Washington (12.21m) and third Ronald Payne (10.16m). All three are Junior Carifta hopefuls.
The women’s javelin was won by Nesia Bamfield (27.0m). Second was Erica Forte (16.60m) and third Lisa Barrow (12.90m).
