Barrington, Phillips highlight Independence Track and Field Meet with wins

Devaun Barrington made a huge statement Sunday by winning the men’s 800m final at the Independence Track and Field Meet held at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Devaun Barrington made a huge statement Sunday by winning the men’s 800m final at the Independence Track and Field Meet held at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Devaun Barrington made a huge statement Sunday by winning the men’s 800m final at the Independence Track and Field Meet held at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Barrington, having somewhat of a point to prove, clocked 1:52.30s to comfortable win the event ahead of Anfernee Headecker who clocked 1:53.67s while Daniel Melville finished third in a time of 1:57.78s.

Headecker, however, rebounded to win the 1500m final

Akeem Stewart won the male category of the marquee 100m event despite a stumble during his drive phase recovered to win the men’s 100 metres in 10.44s on Day 1 on Saturday.

Sprint sensation, Kenisha Phillips recorded a treble in the 100m, 200m and 400m events. 

Phillips took the blue riband 100m race in 11.94s. Alita Moore clocked 12.18s for second while Cassie Small ran 12.31s for third.

She then recorded the sprint double by winning the half lap event in 24.90s, besting the likes of  Alita Moore (25.42s) and Deborah Thorne (25.86s).

In the 400m sprint, Phillips (58.99s), finished ahead of Moore (1:00.5s) and Savannah Adams (1:05.89s).

Akeem Stewart won the male category of the marquee 100m event despite a stumble during his drive phase recovering to win the men’s 100 metres in 10.44s on Day 1 on Saturday.

With Davin Fraser false starting in the final, it was Stewart’s race to lose and the ripped sprinter overcame a decent field of sprinters to win the event despite a tough first 30 metres.

Young, rising sprint sensation, Loneil Marks finished second in 10.52s while Rupert Perry after a long lay off from the track clocked 10.69s in his second race of the season.

Continuing with the sprints, Brianna Charles ran an impressive 12.20s in the 15-17 girls’ age category to top Princess Browne and Celine David who ran 12.50s and 12.91s respectively.

Meanwhile,  Marks won the men’s 200m in 21.36s ahead of Daniel Williams who clocked 21.37s in one of the thrilling races of the meet.

Williams also won the 400m in 48.97s.

CARIFTA Games gold medalist Matthew Gordon continued his rich form with a win in the male 15-17 category 800m with a time of 2:00.92s while Aaliyah Moore won the women’s 800m in 2:23.97s.

Bronze medalist at the last two CARIFTA Games, Princess Browne was also one of the day’s winner’s with a winning leap of 11.88 metres in the female 15-17 triple jump event while another 2019 CARIFTA bronze medalist in Adriel Austin won the 15-17 800m in 2:19.45s.

Brianna Charles completed a sprint double by winning the girl’s 15-17 200m in 24.81s to top Keliza Smith who finished in 25.43s.

The second edition of  the two-day event was billed a success by the organizers.