Athletes impressive at Carifta trials despite no records
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
March 21, 2004
GUYANA’S junior track and field athletes put in good performances on day one of the National Youth/Junior Championships organised by the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA), despite no record-breaking acts at the Enmore Community Centre ground, yesterday.
Probably the race of the day was the girls under-17 1 500m won by Leanna Doris of Dora Secondary in a time of 5:04.2.
Doris outsprinted Delcie Dick to win by a clear five metres.
From the sound of the bell, Doris, Dick and Alika Morgan stuck together and after the first two laps, the three went ahead. Coming down to the final two laps, Dick went to front, but Doris did well to re-take the lead.
Then came the bell for the final lap, Doris accelerated, and so did Dick, as the two battled and established a lead of some 50metres on the third person. Down the backstretch the two were in a ding-dong battle for victory, which brought the sparse crowd to life.
In the end, the smaller built and younger Doris came out victorious.
Morgan placed third.
Cleveland Forde (Rising Stars) was an easy winner in the 5000m Boys’ open race, which he won in a time of 16.18.8, a minute slower than his record-breaking run a week ago at the National Schools’ Championships held at the same venue.
He, however, ran much slower at the Southern Trials on Wednesday when he won in a time of 17:40.6 at the Police Sports Club Ground.
Cleveland Thomas placed second and Cleon Leacock third.
The Boys’ Under-17 1 500m was won by Teon Roberts (Sapodilla) who had also claimed the event at the recent national schools championships and was followed by Keston Tyrell and Dennis Horatio.
In the sprint races, Ryan Reid (Royal Youth Movement (RYM) took the top spot in the Boys’ Under-17 100m ahead of Ralph Fraser and Gordia Accra, while Debra Bowen also of RYM claimed the Girls’ race in 12.3, with Anika Niles second and Shenicka Bentick third.
Charles Binning of Upper Demerara seems set to cart off another sprint double after he won the Boys’ under-20 200m event in 22.4 with Jemel Field a narrow second in 22.5 and Quincy Roach third.
Dianne Munroe of Police Sports Club won the Girls’ race in a time of 26.1, followed by Rushell Coates and Tasia Allen third.
In other results, David Younge of President’s College won the Boys’ Under-17 400m with Shurma Mentore of Police taking the female crown.
Jermaine Pilgrim of RYM won the Boys’ under-20 800m in 2:04.5, while Donna April (New Amsterdam Track Club) won the Girls’ race.
RYM took the Girls’ 4x100m relay races in 52.3, while Police arrested the competition in the Boys’ event.
In the field events, Royston Ross won the Under-20 Boys’ discus with a throw of 45.28m with Cleon Coppin second and Ronald Payne third, while Selwyn McPherson (Dora Secondary) won the Boys’ Under-17 shot put with a throw of 11.43m, while Stacy Wilson of Police with a throw of 24.94m won the Girls’ Under-17 javelin.
Despite the late start by the association, events flowed smoothly with AAA president Claude Blackmore ending the day pleased with the work put in by everyone.
Today is the final day of trials for the juniors who are vying for spots on the national team to contest the Carifta Games to be held in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Sprint, middle and long distance races, along with the long jump shot put and discus events, will be contested, with the 4x400m Open relay bringing the curtain down.
Action starts at 10:00 hrs.