By Treiston Joseph
The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Developmental Meet held at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden last Sunday was brought to an abrupt end due to heavy rainfall.
After a late start the day’s activities got underway with the 5000 metres men’s event where North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country representative, Nathaniel Giddings, continued his fine form as he lapped the field winning in a time of 17:30.0s on a wet and soggy field with Owen Chin trailing some distance behind with 18:40.0s.
The first upset of the day came when double Carifta gold medalist Jevina Straker in her first race of the season dropped out of the 1500 metres race in the fourth lap seemingly succumbing to the early pace applied by Melissa Byass who won in 5:41.0s.
Janella Jonas and Alexis Williams came in second and third respectively with times of 5:46.1s and 6:22.1s respectively.
In the men’s 100 metres, Rupert Perry surged in the final 50 metres to win the event ahead of Winston George and Keith Roberts who were second and third respectively.
Young Marlon Moshette won the Under-18 100 metres in a surprisingly fast time of 11.0s given the prevailing ground conditions with Dominique Fraser and Kevin Scott second and third respectively with times of 11.4s and 11.7s respectively.
Tiffany Carto won the women’s 100m in a relatively slow time of 12.7s with Evelyn Raveith and Alteha Moore second and third respectively.
Cortez Fraser continued his good performances from last year in his first race of the season with a 11.2s run to win the boys’ Under-20 100 metres with Akeem Stewart and Norville Jeffery trailing in second and third places respectively.
Meanwhile Patrick King of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) won the men’s 200 metres in a slower than usual time of 23.6s leaving Leslyn Baird and Carl Lewis trailing with times of 24.0s and 24.2s respectively.
The officials tried to run off the races as quickly as possible given the overcast conditions and Trevaughn George appeared in snyc with them as he outsprinted his counterparts in the final of the Under-20 1500 metres to win in 4:22.02.
Tyshon Bentick and Devon Barrington finished second and third respectively in times of 4:23.0 and 4:23.08.
The rain finally brought the proceedings to a premature end just after Devon Barrington had won the 800 meters juniors in a tactical race. The AAG is set to continue its track season with the National Youth and Junior Trials on the 12th and 13th of March, at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
