Although the club captured its fair share of trophies, coach of the Running Braves Athletics Club, Sham Johnny, says the most significant achievement is the remarkable performance by many of his athletes at the recently-concluded Hampton Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
In individual events the club raked in five first place trophies as well as trophies for finishing in second place twice and in third place six times, alongside a number of other creditable performances in which several of the participants topped their personal best (PB) timings.
In the group events the club was able to earn another three first place positions, two second place positions and a third place.
Johnny attended the event with his 18-member delegation of athletes along with three other officials.
Taking first place in the 100m (12.87 seconds), 200m (26.30 seconds) and 400m (1:00.76) Ashley Tasher, contending in the under-15 category, was recorded as the most outstanding athlete on the team.
Tasher also displayed her athletic prowess in the under-17 4x100m relay and the women’s 4x400m relay in which the team took first and second places, respectively.
Remarking on the feat of his top ranking athlete, Johnny expressed his elation over Tasher’s performance, stressing that it was not so much her wins but her exceptional performance that pleased him the most.
Moreover, Johnny adjudged that Tasher was the best performing athlete at the meet as no other athlete there had rivalled her wins or even performed in as many events.
Also participating alongside Tasher in the 100m, 200m and 4xl00m relay were Shoquan and Shomane Daniels, and Iana Graham. Shomane and Graham also joined Tasher in the 400m, and Graham took second.
Another breathtaking performance was portrayed by 11-year-old Jevina Sampson who put her best foot forward to register a PB in the under-13 400m at one minute and 3.66 seconds, coming in second in the race. Sampson also took fourth in the 800m (2:43.58) and was a part of the women’s 4x400m relay team.
Renowned as Guyana’s top female sprinters, athletes Alisha Fortune and Neisa Allen also contributed their share of trophies. Fortune took the 100m (11.89) and 200m (24.33) by storm, while Allen was third in both events.
Despite their wins Johnny said that in their timings both could have done better. Particularly in the case of Allen, Johnny noted that she “made no effort” as she was intimidated by Alisha and the other athletes in the race.
Meanwhile, Stephon James with his third place in the 400m (49.09) walked away with a bigger victory when he topped his PB. James also took part in the 200m (22.71), 4×100 and 4x400m relays, in which his teams finished third and fourth, respectively.
Shawn Semple was third in the under-20 100m and also took part in the 200m as well as the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
And not to be outdone, Kareem Mann, vying in the under-17 category, despite being unable to secure a trophy compensated himself by registering two PB in the 800m (2:11.43) and 1500m (4:53.68).
Taevon Sirtema also chalked up PB performances in the under-15 200m (25.42) and the 100m (12.28), and 17-year-old Alex Murray achieved a PB of 51.62 seconds in the under-20 400m.
Also recording PB timings were Adrian Foster in the under-15 800m (2:21.72) and Flavio Rodius, who in 15.77 seconds took a PB in his 400m.
Also included in the team were Samuel Lynch who ran the under-13 100m, 200m and 400m and Lanceville Francecumming who competed in the 800m and 1500m in the under-15 category.
