Despite a calf strain that forced favourite Tevin Garraway out of the final of the boys’ Under-20 100m,the first day of the CARIFTA trials to select Guyana’s top junior athletes to the Easter weekend games in Martinique saw some scintillating performances.
A few of the athletes that stood out yesterday at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary were Cassey George, Jason Yaw, Daquan Vancooten and Jevina Sampson.
Here are a few
highlights:
1500m under-18 Girls
George underlined her class in a another superb display of speed and stamina, winning in excess of 100m in a brisk 4:47s and dominating the event which she led from the smoke of the pistol.
The Lindener who won gold at last year’s CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas in 4:44s, was never threatened by second and third place finishers, Shontel Hinds (5:07:40) and Claudrice McKoy (5:09:70).
400m under-18 Boys
Yaw, last year’s CARIFTA Games double bronze medalist (200m and 400m), ran a respectable 49.40 seconds. Some track fans who witnessed Yaw’s victory are convinced he can run much faster since his only competition was against the clock. His performance catapulted him into pole position and makes him a medal contender in the event at the games in a few weeks’ time. Kwesi Blair (52.90) and Carlson Whyte (55.60) joined Yaw on the podium.
400m under-18 Girls
The pint-sized Sampson was a tower of strength. Powering out of the blocks, the Christ Church pupil banked the first turn in the lead and increased it on her rivals with every powerful turnover. Natricia Hooper however, changed gears and closed the gap and eventually both Running Brave products were matching strides with 150m to go. One the homestretch however, Sampson upped the ante and kicked clear of a fading Hooper (59.60) who was passed by a surging Avon Samuels who placed second in 58.50s. Sampson’s winning time was a scorching 57.70s.
100m under-18 Boys
There was a buzz inside the venue before the finalists settled in their starting blocks especially from a section of the grandstand occupied by some vocal supporters. The race featured the highly fancied duo of Vancooten and Compton Caesar both of whom have posted some very fast times in the heats. However, it was Vancooten who led after an explosive start and sped away from the field to record a 10.9s victory. Caesar placed second in 11.00 while Linton Mentis crossed the line third (11.10).
100m under-20 Boys
With the absence of Garraway, Kevin Abbensetts was crowned the meet’s fastest man after exploding out of the blocks and sprinting to victory in a personal best 10.40s. Samuel Doris (10.70) and Quacy Simpson (11.0) were second and third respectively.
Grivon Grant (1500m under-20 boys), Tirana Mitchell (100m under-18 girls), Shoquan Daniels (100m under-20), Shomane Daniels (400m under-20 girls), Arinze Chance (400m under-20 boys) were also in the winner’s row on the track.
On the field, the
winners were:
Long Jump
Chantoba Bright under-18 girls
Joel Thom under-18 boys
Jabary Joseph under-20 boys
Shot Put
Khadija Ba under-18 girls
Jamal Joseph under-18 boys
Javelin
Keoma Dover under-18 boys
Clarence Greene under-20 boys.
Today will see action in the 200m along with 800m, 3000m, 5000m, triple jump, high jump and discus events.
Day two starts at 10:00hrs.
