National Schools C’ships …
Records fall, Upper Demerara poised to retain crown
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
March 12, 2004
TWO records were broken, while one was matched as the 44th Annual National Schools’ Track, Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships, yesterday, the penultimate day of competition at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, East Coast of Demerara.
Today is the final day and Upper Demerara are poised to retain their overall title after dominating the track, field and cycling championships while holding the fifth spot in the teachers’ championship.
Upper Demerara ended yesterday’s track and field championships on 317 1/3 points after 103 events, cycling on 125 from 18 events and are in fifth position for the teachers’ championship with 93 points for a total of 513 points. They had claimed the swimming title with 281 points, going into the final day with a total of 794 points.
Robyn Alleyne followed up her record-breaking Under-20 100m run on Wednesday by eclipsing the 200m Under-20 mark by 2/10 of a second under radiant sunshine.
Facing the strong winds coming down the first 100m, Alleyne who had eaten up the stagger, took the final straight a few metres ahead of field and was aided by the tail wind that followed, as she cruised across the finish line a few metres clear of second place finisher Diane Munroe of District Four and Shurma Mentore of District Three third.
Alleyne clocked 25.3 seconds, beating Leslyn Major’s 25.5 time set in 1996 at the same venue.
The other record to fall was the male teachers’ 31-40 years discus event. Andy Cameron of District 14 registered 22.74m, beating the previous mark of 20.89m set by Franklyn Brandon in 1998 in Linden.
Other results: Charles Binning of Upper Demerara (District 10) claimed the Boys’ Under-20 double. He won the 200m ahead of Dwight Peters and Lancelot Pinder.
Starting off day four, Velisha Easton of District Nine won the Girls’ Under-17 400m, followed by Shonette McFarlane and Donette Mentis, while Rondell Duncan (District Three) claimed the Boys’ title, with Ryan Reid second and David Younge third.
The Girls’ Under-11 100m crown was awarded to Lelita Myers of District 13, with Gillian Brown of District Nine second, and Kelleisha Pellew third.
Controversy followed the decision. The crowd all saw Brown win the race and they vociferously protested, while there was bickering among the judges and timekeepers. According to an official, the decision was changed and Brown was awarded the title, but no official announcement was made.
The Boys’ race went to Kareen Naughton of District 12 followed by Emmanuel Archibald and Akeem Langrey. Naughton followed up with victory in the 200m race with Andrew Johnson in second and Langrey third.
The Girls’ Under-15 100m also had some flair as the young but big built Rondell Alleyne claimed the title. Following in her sister Robyn’s footsteps she too was a convincing winner, cruising across the finish line. Second place went to Ladona McKenzie and third to Monica Roberts.
Yannick Beete won the Boys’ 100m race in the same age group with Jermaine Simpson and Tyrell Jackman in third.
National junior athlete and upcoming distance runner Alika Morgan of District 11 claimed the Girls’ Under-15 1500m race with Leanna Doris placing second and Onika Pompey third.
Floyd Rodrigues claimed the Boys’ race with David Pellew second and Prince Parks third.
One athlete from District Five (West Coast Berbice) crossed the line in the second position but was not awarded the placing because his team manager did not enter his name at the athletes’ call room.
In the Teachers’ division, Edison Jefford of District 13 won both the 21-30 years 200 and 400m sprints, Malika Trotz of District Three the female Teachers’ 21-30 years, while Travis Sargeant won the 80m female Teachers’ Over-40 final and Gordon Munroe the male Teachers’ Over-40 race. Munroe equalled his 2002 record of 9.4.
In the Girls’ Under-15 High Jump, Shenelle Benjamin placed first while Keisha Duncan and Jessica Gomes tied for the second place spot. All three athletes registered a height of 1.35m, but failed attempts from previous jumps determined the winner.
In cycling, Darren Allen of District 12 placed first in the Boys’ Open 3 000m, Chris Persaud won the Under-15 3 000m, Alicon Blackman won the Girls’ Under-15 1500m race, while Alita Logan won the Girls’ Open 1500m.
All track and field events climax today at the same venue from 09:00 hrs, with fireworks expected in the Under-17 100m, 400m in the Under-17 and 20 divisions and 200m sprints. The relays will prove to be hot.