Carlwyn Collins of the Progressive Youth Club (Police) completed an oustanding sprint double in the 200 and 400m under-17 category yesterday at the Athletics Association of Guyana’s Carifta Trials held at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
The 15-year-old Collins, ignored the soggy, rained-out condition of the Eve Leary ground and outclassed the entire field in the hope of impressing the selectors for the 2008 Carifta Games scheduled to take place from March 22-24 in St. Kitts/Nevis.
In his pet event, the 400m, Collins ran a blistering 54:80s to finish ahead of Learie Campbell (57:70s) and Carlon Pitt (58:10s).
In the 200m, Collins shot-out from lane one and flew past four athletes, making up the stagger at the 150m mark before easing past rival Timothy Doris (24:20s) on the final straight to cross the line in a time of 23:50s.
Collins’s coach, Lyndon Wilson, told Stabroek Sport that he gave his athlete an important race strategy to adapt to the condition of the track.
“I told him that he should run the turn as hard as possible and then give it his best on the final straight since he was placed at a disadvantage in the muddiest lane on the track,” Wilson said.
The quickness of Triston Joseph was exhibited in the boys’ under-20 100 and 200m when the Royal Youth Movement athlete completed his sprint double recording times of 10:80s and 22:9s respectively.
Joseph won the 100m ahead of Ian Campbell (11.10s) and Maekel Williams (11:40s) and 200m ahead of Stephen Harris (23.00) and Ian Campbell (23.30s).
Alika Morgan also claimed commanding victories in the girls’ U-20 1500m (5:05.9s) and 3000m (10:55.10s) while her training partner Janella Jonas won the girls’ U-17 800 (2:227s) and 1500m (5:08.9s) respectively to ensure a clean sweep of the female distance events for the Rising Stars club.
The middle-distance sensation hailing from the Rupununi Track Club, Ricardo Martin, stole the spotlight from seasoned campaigner Jonathon Fagundes just as he did at last year’s schools’ Nationals, as he captured victories in the boys under-17 1500m (4:35.00) and 800m (2:14.40s) races.
Fagundes, was however, able to win the boys’ under-17 3000m in the absence of Martin, finishing ahead of Fernando Primus (10:16s) and Colin Lewis (10:29s).
Timothy Doris of Royal Youth Movement clocked 11:20s in the boys’ U-17 100m as he made quick work of Jamoke David (11:50s) and Ageday Chavez of Ruralites 11:60s.
Also of Royal Youth Movement, Letitia Myles ran a speedy 1:03.90s in the girls’ U-17 400m, ahead of Keyandra Zephyr (1:06.70s) and Jevina Straker (1:06.80s).
Ianna Graham ran a blistering 27:00s to finish ahead on Tiffany Smith (27:60) and Myles (27:70s) in the girls’ U-17 200m.
Afeez Samad recovered from his fourth-place finish in the U-20 boy’s 200m, to win the boys’ U-20 400m in 53.20s, piping Odel Adams (53.40s) and Adrian Ross (56.30s).
Shemeka Caesar won the girl’s U-17 javelin while Phillycia Burke captured the girls’ under 20 Javelin with a throw of 23.15 metres.
