By Tamica Garnett
Top Caribbean long distance athlete Alika Morgan and her club mate Chavez Sital showcased their capabilities in the Cinderella county of Essequibo when they dominated the five-mile ‘Damon Road Race’ held on Wednesday by the African Cultural and Education Association in Anna Regina.
Also sharing the spotlight with Morgan and Sital were Frank Sookra and Jamal Henry. Sookra won the junior category of the male division while Henry took to the street on wheels to secure the top spot in the five-mile cycle race that flanked the road race.
Coming in behind Sital was Mark Chester while third place was shared by Desmond Amsterdam and Devon Griffith.
Meanwhile Keasha Simmons was followed by Sue Moseley who came in behind Morgan, who clocked 33 minutes and 34 seconds in her victory run.
These events were a part of the annual activities of the ACEA, which were conducted in honour of the African revolutionary Damon. While the road race has seen a seven-year life span so far, cycling was just added this year.
Also included in this year’s programme was a “Day of Sports” that saw a multitude of youths from around the community participating in athletic events at the Anna Regina Community Center.
With over $200,000 in cash and trophies up for grabs, spectators were thrilled by some fine athletic talents.
In the under-10 category 80m Sheria Peter crossed the finish line ahead of Ashley Adolphine.
In the boys’ division, Sookra’s speed was not up to his earlier performance in the road race and he had to settle for third, while Travis Joyce won from Shomar Dover.
Taking another second place, Dover in the under-13 category came in behind Akeem Green in the 100m race. A repeat of performances was played out in the under-13 200m where Green once again copped top spot and Dover followed.
In the sprints in the boys’ under-16 category, it was Kevin Abbensettes who enjoyed bragging rights by winning the 100m and 200m races, but he took a second place in the 400m.
In the 100m and 200m, Devon Griffith was second while the trend continued with Olwyn Stewart taking the last podium position in both races.
However, in the 400m Griffith and Abbensettes switched positions with Griffith leading Abbensettes and Mark Chester occupied the third spot.
However, moving from sprint races to the endurance middle distance 800m, Griffith’s speed could not overcome the stamina of Chester, who cruised to first place.
In the under-20 category, it was Kevin Padmore who equalled the performance of Abbensettes in the 100m, 200m and the 400m sprints. In the 200m Padmore was pursued by Ranzel Garraway who settled for third in the 100m behind Lennox.
In the 400m, it was Amsterdam, revived from his earlier five miles, who returned to take the top spot, followed by Padmore in second and Garraway in third.
Also bringing some Georgetown flare to the meet was Dameon Marks who won the open category 100m in front of Chris Gordon in second and Griffith in third.
The 200m was won by Gordon and Mark Moore triumphed in the 400m, followed by Colin Harry in second and Chris Gordon in third.
For the girls under-16 category, Necose Clement won the 100m, coming ahead of Latoya Chu. And both participants were pushed back one place each when Princess Gardener stepped onto the scene to win the 200m sprint.
Atika Gordon made an easy win in the 400m to breeze past the finish line ahead of Gardener in second position and the road race second place winner Simmons.
Keasha also won the under-16 800m and Morgan taking to the track made easy work of the 800m open.
For the 800m under-20, Nichola Munroe despite her strenuous struggle could not overpower Amelia Quintyn who edged past Munroe in the last few yards to win the race.
Munroe once again settled for a silver medal position when she tried her skills in the open category 200m, but found it difficult to surpass the pace of Natoya Norville. Norville returned with just as much energy to make a clean sweep of the 100m, finishing ahead of Saski Granville, while Munroe took a bronze.
Munroe took another bronze in the 400m open that was also won by Norville, and Quintyn came in second.
Trophies and cash prizes were presented to the first three winners of each race. Trophies were donated by Joseph Charles, Rupert Hopkinson from the Reading and Research Center, Gena Amsterdam, Marva Bowen and the ACEA New York Chapter, while the monetary prizes were sponsored by Leslie Blacks and the East Coast Restaurant on Robb Street.
