Alleyne cops double; Thomas most impressive
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
March 22, 2004
WHILE Robyn Alleyne followed up her national schools’ championships with a double title yesterday, Kendingo Thomas proved to be the athlete of the day as the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) National Youth/Junior Championships concluded at the Enmore Community Centre ground.
For most, Alleyne was in form when she carted off the Girls’ Under-20, 100m and 400m sprint races, but little did they know that Thomas of Royal Youth Movement (RYM) had broken the seven-metre barrier in the Boys’ Under-20 long jump event.
Thomas, after being the leading jumper in the first round, took his fourth leap that saw him registering his personal best of 7.02m under radiant sunshine, thereby making a mark in the selectors’ books for possible selection to the national team that will compete in the Carifta Games in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Cleon Coppin of Upper Demerara placed second while Javett Hackett (RYM) finished third.
Alleyne, who did not contest the 200m sprint yesterday, won the 100m event in 12.1 while Dianne Munroe placed second (Police) and Rushell Coates (RYM) third.
She claimed the 400m in 1:01.04 while Brunetta Henry of South Ruimveldt finished second and Kesha Aaron of Sapodilla (SAP) third.
Quacy Roache (RYM) was the Boys’ Under-20 400m winner, ahead of Christopher Hall and B. Smith (Silver Fox).
Upper Demerara’s Charles Binning took the Boys’ Under-20 100m in 10.6 seconds with Jamel Fields of Bedford second and Carlton Bobb third.
In the Under-17 category, Rondell Alleyne claimed Girls’ 200m race in 25.9 while Ryan Reid (RYM) won the Boys’ event in 23.4.
Apart from these events, Cleveland Forde of Rising Stars (RS) was an easy winner in the Boys’ Under-20 1500m, while Keisha Tixey of President’s College (PC) won the Girls’ race in a closely contested final.
She out-sprinted her closest rival Sonia Kirton (Upper Demerara) in the last 50m, while Felisha Booker (SAP) placed third.
In other track events, Teon Roberts claimed the Boys’ Under-17 3 000m event with Winston Alexander of Dora Secondary in second position and Ricky Kissoon of Rising Stars third.
The 800m Under-17 Girls’ final proved a worthy race, with the battle from the sound of the bell involving eventual winner Alika Morgan (RS) and second-place finisher Onica Pompey (RYM).
The two fought neck-and-neck coming down to the final lap, but Morgan the more seasoned athlete went ahead with some 150m to go, and it was evident that Pompey had given up all hope.
She made one last attempt for the top spot 50m to the finish line but Morgan denied her that victory. Shurma Mentore of Police ended third.
In the Boys’ event Roydell Duncan of the Running Hornets (RH) won in a time of 2:10.3 with Keston Tyrell (RYM) second, and David Younge (PC) third.
The 4x400m relays ended the weekend’s action with Police winning the women’s race and RYM triumphing in the male battle.
In the field events, Rushell Coates (RYM) won the Girls’ Under-20 long jump, while Shemicka Bentick (RYM) took the Under-17 Girls’ event and Cornel Taylor of Belladrum Secondary, the Boys’ Under-17 event.
Cleon Coppin copped the Boys’ Under-20 shot put with a throw of 12.63m, while Tasia Allen (SAP) won the Girls’ event with Phillycia Burke (Upper Dem) taking the event with a throw of 23.26m.
The trials were held over two days to select a team to represent Guyana at the Carifta Games scheduled for next month.