-Guyanese athletes proved to be the undisputed kings and queens of the track as they recorded podium finishes in every event at the end of the first day of the track and field event of the Inter-Guiana games
From Kiev Chesney in Suriname
Guyana regained momentum when her athletes dominated the first session of the track and field aspect of the 2008 Inter-Guiana Games which continued at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium here yesterday.
The Guyanese supporters could not stay in their seats during the presentation ceremony which followed as the national anthem played repeatedly after Guyana made the podium in every event.
The day started on a productive note as Janella Jonas and Carlissa Atkinson placed one-two with more than 100m lead in the girls’ 1500m which was followed by another sweep of the first two positions by Carlon Halley and Tyshon Bentick in the boys’ 1500m.
The Guyana dominance soon became routine and, after the first session the local athletes had run away with 20 individual medals.
Treiston Joseph and Timothy Doris dominated the 100m, recording respective times of 10.80s and 11.0s while Letitia Myles and Ianna Graham rocketed to victory in the 400m in 1:01.40s and 1:02.70s (personal best) respectively.
Carlon Pitt and Hamere Alexander leapt to a 1-2 finish in the male high jump, as they cleared 1.65m and 1.60m respectively.
Carlwyn Collins endured a hamstring injury and ran down French Guiana’s Brenord Leonard (52.60s) to settle for second place in a time of 53.0s in the 400m.
The two 400m stars, Collins and Pitt, were sidelined for the rest of the day, forcing middle-distance runners Bentick, and Halley to fit in as the 4x400m relay team finished second.
The French Guiana athletes attempted to withdraw from the competition after officials did not overrule what they thought was a false start in the boys’ 100m.
They subsequently sat out of the boys and girls’ long and high jump events but seemed to regain their sportsmanship and competitive spirit when they won the boys’ 4x400m relay.
Today Joseph and Miles will hope to complete sprint doubles when they appear in the 200m races while Collins hopes to make a speedy recovery to anchor the 4x100m relay.
Graham, who twisted her ankle in the girls’ high jump, is not sure if she will be at optimum to return in the girls’ 4x100m relay event.
