Alika Morgan among early winners

By Rawle Toney

The 48th Annual National School’s Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships got started in the mining town of Linden yesterday with some of Guyana’s prominent athletes in the field of cycling and athletics starting in admirable fashion.

In the 10K run for male and females which took place early yesterday morning Alika Morgan easily out ran her competitors while fellow national distance athlete Tyshon Bentinck was also in superb form.

Morgan, who unlike last year, is running for East Bank Demerara at this year’s championship won the event clocking 40:06s.
Her normal rival at the championships, Rupununi’s distance champion, Dorreta Wilson, finished a distant in 46:15s while Christine Mathews of East Coast, finished third with a time of 46:21s.

After the race, Morgan said that she was looking for a tough challenge from Wilson who has over the years been her closest rival. She also said that she was used to the hilly terrain and that she was well prepared for the event.
In the boys’ Open event, Bentinck, who ran a very comfortable race, won in a time of 36:02s. He led from the beginning of the race and never looked back. Pierre Tello of Corentyne District finished second in a time of 36:36s while third place went to Quinn George of District #5 (West Coast Berbice) in  37:21s.

Alika Morgan, left and Tyshon Bentick. Naomi Singh.

After the race Bentinck said that he was well prepared for the race but didn’t expect to win so easily.
In the cycling events, Naomi Singh rode hard to win the girls’ 25K Open road race which started on the Linden Soesdyke Highway and finished at Kara Kara Linden.

Singh, representing the East Coast District, was challenged by Hazina Barrett of District #10.
Singh won in 53:19s while Barrett’s time was 53:27s.
Shimoly Welch of District #6 was third clocking 56:13s.
“I really wanted to race against Marcia Dick,” said Singh after the race adding d that she was not used to riding on the highway.
The boys’ 40K event was dominated by District# 10 who had the top three finishers of the race.
Micheal Nelson was the winner in a time of 1:06s while his team-mates Al Greene and Ras Staf O’Selmo were second and third respectively.